Chris Rigg is stealing a lot of the headlines at Sunderland right now.
There’s so much to like about Sunderland right now, and a lot for fans to be excited about.
New manager Regis Le Bris has more than hit the ground running; he’s win his first four league games and his side have conceded just once, scoring 10.
It leaves Sunderland in 1st place of the Championship table with the best defensive record and the joint-best attack
Individual players are coming into praise, along with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus too.
But midfielder Chris Rigg is one name who most seem to be talking about more than any right now.
The 17-year-old has become an integral part of Le Bris’ starting XI at Sunderland, earning praises fans and from the general football world.
Labelled a ‘generational player’, Rigg broke onto the first-team scene last season, and team captain Dan Neil has discussed what the players first impressions of Rigg was.
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Dan Neil on Sunderland first impressions of Chris Rigg
Speaking in the 72+ EFL Podcast, Neil gave his verdict on Rigg’s performances so far this season, also discussing the first time that Rigg trained with the senior players.
Neil said: “From the minute he came in training with us, which was probably two years ago now, under Tony Mowbray, he was a 15-year-old and we could tell from that first session that he was going to be a really good player.
“When a 15-year-old comes up and doesn’t care who he’s playing against, and gets stuck into the first team players but can also take it back as well, everyone was like ‘we’ve got a player here’.”
Rigg now has 25 Championship appearances to his name, after signing a new Sunderland contract during the summer amid interest from some of Europe’s top teams.
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The one thing that’s most impressive about Chris Rigg at Sunderland
Everyone can see and raves about Rigg’s technical game; his passing and neat touches in the middle of the pitch, which are helping to set up a lot of attacks in this new system.
But Rigg’s physical game perhaps doesn’t get as much love as it should.
Despite being quite a slight player, and still a very young one, Rigg never shies away from a tackle, and he’s proving that he can handle the physical rigours of Championship football
Neil points that out in his comments, and it’s arguably what’s allowed Rigg to flourish in the Championship so far.
We’ve seen a lot of younger players with good technical ability, but not the physicality to match, and they often faltered in the Championship.
But Rigg is proving that he he’s the full package so far.
Sunderland’s next fixture is away vs Plymouth Argyle later this month.