EFL expert left in awe of Sunderland teenage sensation Chris Rigg after Preston draw

Teenage sensation Chris Rigg was lauded as “by far the best player on the pitch” as Sunderland drew with Preston North End on Wednesday night.

The 17-year-old was brought straight back into the starting line-up after missing the QPR match with a chest problem and he shone.

Rigg had a good game in midfield, especially when Sunderland were hitting Preston on the counter as he played a key role in spreading the ball wide and starting attacks.

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The Black Cats academy man has now featured 13 times in the Championship this season and has four goals to his name.

Posting on X, talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham hailed Rigg as the star man and said: “Sunderland’s Chris Rigg is 17. By far the best player on the pitch at Preston tonight.

“A privilege to see such a talent. Has so much time, so comfortable on the ball. The boy’s got a future.”

Rigg recorded the seventh-most touches of the ball for Sunderland at Preston (42), completing the sixth-most accurate passes on the night too (20 out of 27 attempted).

He also made one key pass (joint-most of any Sunderland player) and recorded the fourth-most duels of any Sunderland man (six completed out of 10 attempted).

Sunderland return to action tomorrow afternoon when they welcome Coventry City to the Stadium of Light. First-team coach Rhys Carr has been placed in interim charge of the Sky Blues following Mark Robins' dismissal. Robins was sacked by the Sky Blues in the wake of their 2-1 defeat to Derby County.