Sunderland have had a number of standout players already this season. But one surprising name isn’t featured in their top five performers, per Sofascore.
For this November international break, Sunderland sit in 1st place of the Championship table under Regis Le Bris.
But there’s a definite air of disappointment among fans. Last time out, Sunderland drew 2-2 with Coventry City at the Stadium of Light after going into the break with a two-goal lead.
The international break perhaps comes at a good time for a Black Cats side that looked very leggy in the second half against Coventry, with injuries now piling up.
Sunderland’s injury and suspensions list is looking quite lengthy ahead of the trip to Millwall later this month.
But Le Bris knows his side remains the best in the Championship so far this season, with a number of individuals having shone for the Black Cats.
However, 17-year-old star Chris Rigg doesn’t feature in the club’s top five performers.
Chris Rigg omitted from Sunderland’s top five performers list
Per Sofascore, Romaine Mundle is the Sunderland player with the highest average rating so far this season, having scored four goals and assisted two more in 15 league games this season.
Then it’s Luke O’Nien, Trai Hume, Jobe Bellingham, and impressive left-back Dennis Cirkin in fifth. But no Rigg.
Rigg has featured 14 times in the Championship this season and has three goals to his name, with Sofascore ranking the Black Cats academy man as the ninth best player for Sunderland this season.
After Cirkin, it goes Chris Mepham, Patrick Roberts, Anthony Patterson, and then Rigg.
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Possible Chris Rigg injury played down at Sunderland
Rigg’s impressive form this season lead to a call-up to the England U19s for this month’s international break.
Though it was quickly revealed that Rigg had been withdrawn from international duty, leaving many fearing a possible injury.
But it turns out that Sunderland, England, and Rigg agreed on him being rested this month, and so he should be fit and firing ahead of the congested winter period.
We’ve certainly seen a star born in Rigg this season. He’s more than holding his own in the Championship and likewise in the Sunderland XI, despite what is a very strong midfield department at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland return to action against Millwall later this month.