Twelve months ago, Chris Rigg was on the verge of becoming a Premier League player. Having been a fixture in the team that achieved promotion, it was always going to be a big test for an 18-year-old.
In his early appearances, he looked a little lightweight and struggled to impact games. His withdrawal, when Reinildo was sent off against Aston Villa, probably didn’t help his confidence. It was only in the latter stages of last season that he began to look as though he belonged at this level.
The contrast
between the impression he gave in the early weeks of last season and his performances against York and Liverpool could not be greater. Whatever the strength of the opposition, he has looked like a completely different player from the one who started last season.
He is more physically imposing, he has greater involvement in matches, his creativity is coming to the fore, and he is starting to display the dominance at this level that he showed while representing his country throughout the age groups. The “boy” has grown up and now looks like a genuine Premier League player.
He is driving forward, which seems to be part of a tactical change by Régis Le Bris to move the ball more quickly through midfield. If that is how we intend to play when the Premier League kicks off next month, the xG enthusiasts are going to have to find something else to criticise. And Rigg has the perfect skillset for such an approach.
Chris Rigg has proved that he can make the step up to becoming a Premier League player. Now he looks as though he can properly impose himself on games and become a dominant force as Sunderland prepare for both the Premier League and the Europa League.
Our homegrown Academy product is going to make it very difficult for our record signing, Habib Diarra, to earn a place in the starting XI. That can only be a good thing.
