Former Sunderland player and chairman Niall Quinn was recently at the Academy of Light to check in on the players, the new manager, and more.
Niall Quinn is a modern day Sunderland legend. The now 58-year-old spent six years with the club as a player between 1996 and 2002, making 218 appearances and scoring 67 goals, then having a stint as the club’s chairman between 2007 and 2011.
The Irishman was even Sunderland manager for a very brief spell, so he’s certainly done it all on Wearside.
Ahead of the Black Cats’ Championship clash against Norwich City on Saturday, Quinn visited the Academy of Light, checking on this exciting crop of players coming through under Regis Le Bris.
The players showed their maturity last weekend after coming from behind to beat Swansea City in Wales, with the win leaving Le Bris’ side in 4th place of the Championship table.
What Niall Quinn had to say about the Sunderland players
Speaking on Total Sport, reporter Nick Barnes revealed that he had a conversation with Quinn on his recent visit to the Academy of Light.
Barnes went on to reveal how they spoke positively about the current fortunes of the club, of Le Bris, and particularly of the playing squad.
Quinn is very impressed with how these young players are playing without fear. Barnes said: “We were talking about the team at the moment, and Regis and how he likes him and how he’s in alignment with the board and the club… But he also referred to the young players.
“We had that conversation about expectation and fear, an young players can easily be overawed because of the size of the club and the expectations on them.
“But he said they play without fear. He says I love the way these young players at Sunderland are playing without fear.”
One player sums up Niall Quinn’s Sunderland verdict perfectly
With such a young squad (average age 23.9 years, youngest in the Championship), there’s inevitable pitfalls, like losing confidence or fitness and so on.
So far though, these young players are standing up to the challenge, like Quinn says, and none sum up this current mentality better than Rigg.
He’s the one who’s really burst into form this season. He plays without any fear whatsoever and just the right amount of confidence that means he’s improving every game.
Rigg never shies away in the midfield and his links to the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United prove just how good a player he already is.
Sunderland against Norwich City kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.