Sunderland's Chris Rigg (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis)
Sunderland's Chris Rigg (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis)
REGIS Le Bris has seen a "huge improvement" in Chris Rigg over the course of the last 12 months - and believes there's added confidence to the teenager's game after his first season in the Premier League.
And although he's had to be patient in the early stages of the campaign, Le Bris is backing Rigg to grasp his Sunderland opportunity when it comes his way in the weeks ahead.
Rigg had something of a difficult start to last season. Although he featured in six of the first nine games, he was substituted early on against Aston Villa after Reinildo's red card and then spent the bulk of the next four months on the fringes, with opportunities and minutes hard to come by.
But the 19-year-old finished the season strongly, featuring in eight of the last 10 games and then had an impressive pre-season campaign.
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The fact he's been limited to just 17 Premier League minutes so far this season isn't because of anything he's done, or not done. Rather because Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fee have established themselves as the first choice midfield trio and Nordi Mukiele, Thomas Meunier and Trai Hume have all impressed Le Bris playing down the right flank.
But Le Bris has told Rigg that he's been really encouraged by his progress over the course of the last 12 months - on and off the pitch - and says the teenager has a key role to play.
Opportunities will almost certainly come Rigg's way this month, with Sunderland facing seven games in 21 days once action resumes with next week's visit of Brighton.
"We were able to work on our right triangle early in the season and this is an important part of our performance, so they've been ready to play," said Le Bris, explaining Rigg's lack of football so far.
"Riggy, we had the conversation early in July comparing his start last season and his start this season. It's a huge improvement. It's not just about football, it's about the maturity of the man as well. Now he's a really good sub and if he seizes his opportunity he might start soon."
Le Bris was asked whether he's seen a change in Rigg physically over the course of the last year.
"From a body shape perspective I'm not sure, so it's probably about his confidence," he said.
"Often you can be exactly the same shape but because you are more confident you look bigger, sharper and quicker and I think that's the case with Riggy now."