DAN Neil, Trai Hume and Luke O'Nien are the only Sunderland outfield players to have racked up more Championship minutes than Jobe Bellingham this season.
How easy it is to forget that the midfielder is still only 19.
Bellingham has played every single minute of 21 of Sunderland's last 22 Championship games - only missing the home draw with Watford because of a minor ankle injury.
At a time of the season when Regis Le Bris has tinkered and tried to freshen up his side during the run-in, Bellingham has remained a constant.
When Bellingham has been available this season, he's played - every minute. Not once as he been substituted and not once as he started on the bench. Apart from Watford, the only other games he's missed were the three that followed his sending off at QPR.
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Why is he so important to Sunderland? Well, obviously because of his quality. But also, says Le Bris, because of his consistency.
"I liked Jobe again today," said Sunderland's head coach after Saturday's Millwall win.
"He has been very impressive so far this season, very consistency, he's played so many minutes.
"We need to support him when it's a little bit more difficult because of his style. His confidence can be a little bit low, but at the same time, he's always consistent. He will continue to build a strong level."
Sunderland head for West Brom on Saturday looking to build on the victory over Millwall.
Le Bris is likely to expected to have Leo Hjelde available but there's no guarantee the defender will go straight into the side.
In the absence of Hjelde and Cirkin, Trai Hume shifted to left-back on Saturday and Alan Browne impressed playing at right-back.
Le Bris must now decide whether to stick with the same defence at the Hawthorns, but regardless of what he opts for on Saturday he says Browne has a major role to play between now and the end of the season.
"For the first game in this position, it was good, it was really good," he said.
"He adapted very, very well and quickly. Trai played as a left-back as well.
"The adaptation of the team was positive and it shows that we need these versatile players for a full season. When Browney has played he has always been positive for us."
