Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg has made a superb return to the first-team fold in recent weeks
In the latter stages of the January transfer window, Chris Rigg's lack of regular game time at Sunderland led to something of a debate on Wearside. Given the circumstances, would it be best for the youngster to head out on loan and play regularly before May?
The logic to this argument was obvious: A lack of regular football risked stalling the youngster's impressive development and the best thing to do would be to most likely drop back into the Championship where he could continue to play week in, week out. It was also a debate that took place behind the scenes at the Academy of Light but for Sunderland's hierarchy, the question was a difficult one. Rigg's successful return to the starting XI over the last fortnight is a reminder that while playing time is key for young footballers, it's not the only way in which they can learn and grow. As a result of his rapid rise over the 18 months that culminated in Sunderland's promotion, Rigg by January had over 60 Championship appearances under his belt in a number of different roles and positions. While the benefits of regular football for his rhythm and match fitness were obvious, there was an argument that another 15-20 second-tier appearances might not have taught him a great deal he hadn't already learned.
Sunderland's decision to keep Rigg came down to two key factors, the first being that they deliberately run a small squad and so players who seem some way off contention can quickly see their circumstances change. This is exactly how it played out for Rigg, with Bertrand Traoré, Nilson Angulo, Romaine Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi all picking up injuries of varying severity. The second was that in his Premier League appearances to date, Rigg had shown flashes of his promise but understandably had work to do adjusting to the speed and intensity of the game. So might it not be better for him to stay with the group, and have the time behind the scenes to train with players at the level day in, day out?
As Régis Le Bris noted in the immediate aftermath of the defeat to Brighton, in which Rigg was clearly Sunderland's best player, that hard work behind the scenes is now paying off. Le Bris noted the increased level of trust Rigg's team mates were showing him, confidence growing that when he received the ball he was capable of keeping it and making something happen. That, Le Bris explained, was a consequence of what they were seeing day in, day out on the training pitches. Now with seven games to go, Rigg has played his way firmly into the starting XI and has a superb platform to build some real momentum ahead of the summer and next season.
Rigg's immense talent has always made him something of an outlier as a young player, and so it would be ill-advised to draw too many sweeping conclusions from his recent journey. For most of the young players who follow him through the pathway in the years ahead, a senior loan will be a vital step in bridging the huge gap to Premier League football. What we can say is that Sunderland's decision is starting to pay off for all parties, and it's a reminder that sometimes time can be the valuable commodity of all in football: development doesn't always have to be rushed.
Sunderland’s decision could also yet have major medium and long-term consequences. While Rigg of course needs now to find a level of consistency and an increased output in the final third, his rise could be crucial for Sunderland as they plot a major summer transfer window. More investment in the squad is inevitable but Sunderland do not have a bottomless pit of funds and even if they did, the Premier League’s financial rules would prevent them repeating last summer’s £150 million spend on a regular basis. If Rigg can show between now and the end of May that he is ready to play regularly, whether that be as an additional central midfielder or more regularly off the right flank, it could allow the club to prioritise other positions. They have a big decision to make on Bertrand Traoré’s contract and they might need another winger either way, but Rigg’s rise would almost certainly lessen the need to spend fortunes in central midfield that will be needed elsewhere.
It will not be lost on the Black Cats that a spell on the right flank at the end of the troubled 2023/24 campaign was crucial to Rigg’s breakthrough, with the youngster establishing himself at the heart of midfield in the season that followed. Who is to say he can’t replicate that journey at the level above? If he does, then Le Bris will gain some immensely valuable squad depth and Sunderland will boast one of the best young English assets in the game.
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