MIKE DODDS has told Sunderland supporters to “get excited” about Chris Rigg after the teenager made his first Championship start in last night’s 1-0 defeat to Leicester City.
Despite not turning 17 until June, Rigg was handed a full league debut against the Championship leaders at the Stadium of Light.
He responded with a composed and mature midfield display that saw him diligently carry out his defensive duties as Sunderland successfully calmed Leicester’s early attacking storm, while also becoming increasingly prominent as an attacking force as the game wore on.
Having burst onto the scene while he was still at school last season, Rigg has had to bide his time since signing a first professional contract with the Black Cats last summer.
Dodds and the rest of Sunderland’s coaching team have never doubted his ability though, and there is a good chance he will get plenty more chances to impress in the remaining ten games of the season.
“I really liked his (Rigg) performance,” said the Black Cats’ interim head coach. “I thought he was really selfless in terms of the out-of-possession stuff because they tweaked one or two things which we didn’t expect.
“I felt Riggy adapted to it really well. The plan was to maybe get an hour out of him, but I knew he would go to the well. I knew he would give us absolutely everything, and that’s why I thought it was a really good game for him, because we needed everyone to empty the tank.
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