Sunderland new signing Chris Mepham was left blown away by one thing about Chris Rigg.
Sunderland fans couldn’t have envisaged such a brilliant start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign, which has seen Regis Le Bris’ side get five wins out of six games so far this season so far.
The entire side has performed incredibly in contrast to such a gutless back end of the 2023/24 season, which saw Sunderland finish in a lowly 16th position.
In particular, the centre-of-the-park has shone under Le Bris, with Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg showing incredible talent at such a young age, with the latter scoring the decisive goal in the home win against Middlesbrough with a brilliantly well taken back heel at an acute angle that beat Seny Dieng in-between the sticks for the away side.
Rigg has been in-and-around the Sunderland side for over a year now, and he is really proving to be a crucial part of the side, and new arrival Chris Mepham has really been surprised by one aspect of the youngster.
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Sunderland defender Chris Mepham thought one thing about Chris Rigg was ‘unbelievable’
Sunderland defender Mepham made his Black Cats debut at the weekend against Middlesbrough, slotting in for Dan Ballard, who wasn’t 100% fit and available for action.
Mepham was certainly blown away by Rigg’s goal, and he has revealed what he thought was ‘unbelievable’ about the star.
Per Sunderland Echo, he said: “I must admit I didn’t realise how young Chris was probably until about a week in. I couldn’t believe it.
“I think I got asked in a Q&A recently who’s impressed me the most and he’s the first person who came to mind, just the way he carries himself. He carries himself like he’s been around for years.
“On the pitch, he looks so cool, calm and collected and also he’s a top, top guy.
“It’s important to keep him down to earth and humble. I have no doubts he’ll have an unbelievable career.
“When you see him day in, day out you get a gauge of what a player’s like and you expect to see him on a Saturday.
“He took the game by the scruff of the neck. I haven’t been here long but there’s definitely a top, top player there. It’s just the way he carries himself, he’s vocal on the pitch.”
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Chris Rigg has mastered one key aspect of his game at such a young age
There is no doubting that Rigg has got the blueprint to have a fantastic career, whether that is with Sunderland, or at a higher level in the Premier League or abroad.
To look so assured in his abilities at the age-of-17 is certainly a gift, but one thing that sets him apart from other youngsters at this and any other level is the psychological side to the game that he has mastered.
Mepham is certainly not wrong when he praises Rigg for looking ‘like he’s been around for years’, and that is purely down to the way he is able to conduct the midfield like an experienced player.
To be such a complete player in regards to the mental side of the game at the age-of-17 is such an achievement, and it shows that he has the tools to forge an incredible career.