One Sunderland star has shone beyond the rest so far in the 2024/25 Championship season.
The Black Cats have successfully continued their winning stretch to four games this season, seeing them enter the first international break of the 2024/25 campaign top of the Championship table.
No one could have predicted such an emphatic start to proceedings for new Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris, and it is clear that he has massively galvanised the side over pre-season and there is every bit of faith that the French coach is the person to take the Black Cats forward.
The 3-1 win against a stern Portsmouth side embodied such a brilliant start to the campaign, as goals from Alan Browne and Romaine Mundle, alongside the fortunes of an own-goal.
The win at Fratton park embodied everything that has been successful about Sunderland’s start to the season, and one player in particular has been rightfully noted as one of the key figures behind Sunderland’s brilliant start.
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Chris Rigg hailed as ‘generational talent’ following brilliant start to Sunderland’s season
The 17-year-old prodigy has started the last three games of the season for Sunderland, and despite his age, Chris Rigg is showing his maturity and ability in abundance that makes him more than capable to perform at this level.
The midfielder has been praised by journalist George Smith, per The Championship Chat Podcast on X, where he said: “It’s really impressive the way he’s [Rigg] looked so far.
“He’s now entering his third season as a first-team player at 17-years-old.
“He just looks like a class act, he already looks as though he is going to be the leading contender for the Young Player of the Season already.
“He just looks like an absolute gem of a talent, he is a generational player.”
Despite his age, Rigg has already notched 25 appearances at Championship level.
He has already previously received Premier League interest from Newcastle United, however he opted to sign a professional contract to keep him on Wearside.
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Chris Rigg must be careful with his next career move
Rigg’s rise to the Sunderland first-team has been rather remarkable, with the youngster already tying down a spot in the side on a consistent basis, and he has proven to be so pivotal in recent weeks for the Black Cats.
As is the same when any player in the Championship stands out, Premier League sides will without a doubt start to circle Sunderland as they aim to acquire the services of the youngster, however Rigg must be aware that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
There have been many occasions where players have not quite managed to live up to the level of the Premier League, and their development can falter as a result, and whilst Rigg certainly is a brilliant player at Championship level, a move away from his boyhood club could certainly move his career off-track.
With the form Sunderland have started the 2024/25 season in, Rigg could potentially reach the Premier League with the Black Cats and naturally reach the top level, and even if they were unsuccessful, there should certainly be no rush for the youngster to move on from Wearside.