Régis Le Bris hails key change for Chris Rigg as 'perfect example' for Sunderland | OneFootball

Régis Le Bris has hailed Chris Rigg's application, saying the teenager's recall shows why patience with young players matters. According to Sunderland Echo, he also highlighted the growing trust Rigg now commands from senior teammates.

Rigg's minutes were limited in the first half of the Premier League season as he adjusted. He did not play in the league between the 3-0 defeat to Brentford on 7 January and the 1-0 win over Leeds on 3 March.

That spell proved important, with Rigg ready to seize his chance. He was arguably Sunderland's standout in the 1-0 loss to Brighton at the Stadium of Light, which set up an excellent display in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United a week later.

Le Bris said credit must be earned on the pitch. He noted Rigg had earlier lacked composure, which can make teammates reluctant to pass, but said the opposite is now true after his attitude, resilience and character in training. He added that winning the confidence of senior figures, citing Granit, signals maturity and reflects Sunderland's identity.

Rigg felt time out of the side helped him improve, with extra work on the training ground aiding his development. He stressed the need to maintain consistency.

The 18-year-old is with England's U19s as they chase a place at this summer's European Championships. He was a second-half substitute in a 2-0 defeat to Serbia earlier in the week, leaving qualification in the balance. Spain await on Saturday at 11am, then Croatia on Tuesday at 1.45pm.

Source: Sunderland Echo