Chris Rigg will be chomping at the bit to get his first full season at Sunderland underway.
The midfielder got his first taste of senior football for Sunderland back in the 2022/23 campaign, when he made his debut in the FA Cup in the second half of the season.
He had to wait until September to make his Championship debut though, before he was limited to only five appearances over the next four months.
Rigg struggled to force his way into the squad under Michael Beale, but Mike Dodds brought him back in as he was appointed as interim head coach until the end of the season.
The teenager went onto pick up eight starts and featured in every game for the remainder of the season, before going onto put pen to paper on his first professional contract.
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Rigg explains what Dodds would tell him last season
Rigg turned down a number of Europe’s biggest clubs to stay at the Stadium of Light and has now explained who played a ‘big part’ in his decision.
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Rigg said: “Mike [Dodds] helped me a lot by playing me and trusting me against the big teams like Leicester City, Southampton and Leeds United. It wouldn’t have been possible without him.
“I was nervous, but the main thing that he’d say to me every game was ‘enjoy it.’ You’re not going to play well if you don’t enjoy it. That was a big part in me staying at the club because I enjoy coming to work every day – if you can call it that. It’s a dream, it’s what every boy dreams of.”
Why Sunderland should keep hold of Dodds
Sunderland fans were desperate for Rigg to be given a chance in the senior squad and Dodds was quick to give them what they wanted.
The coach came under heavy criticism during his third spell at the helm, but one thing that can’t be argued was that he had a very strong relationship with the players and knew how to handle the young ones.
Dodds resisted overplaying Rigg and allowed him to gradually settle into the senior team, while also playing him out wide as he wasn’t ready to take the plunge straight into the middle of the park.
The youngster has massively benefited from the way Dodds treated him and it comes as no surprise that he is incredibly thankful for that, despite many fans wanting him out of the club.
The 38-year-old is definitely not fit to be head coach, but his bond with the players definitely shouldn’t be disturbed – especially if he is the one tempting the likes of Rigg to stay.