Ruben Amorim warned about Carrington intervention as Man United linked to £25m wonderkid

Ruben Amorim may need to keep the intensity of reported Manchester United target Chris Rigg in check, according to Tony Mowbray's comments about the teenager's training tendencies.

The 17-year-old has played a starring role in the Black Cats' impressive season thus far as they sit top of the Championship after 14 games. He's scored three league goals for the club during the campaign, second only to team-mates Romaine Mundle and Wilson Isidor who both have four apiece.

Rigg has long been linked with a move to the Red Devils who have scouted him from the age of 14 and he hasn't been shy in discussing his ambitions to reach the very top of football.

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Mowbray - who gave Rigg his professional debut at the age of 15 in January 2023 - discussed his former player at length last year as he mentioned just how intense the teen can get in training.

"Chris is doing very well, he's a very robust kid who trains with us every day," the 60-year-old said to the Sunderland Echo.

"He's a joy to watch in training, to be honest. He doesn't worry about who the big stars are in our team or anything like that, he will scythe them down if the ball is there to be won. I'm screaming 'woah, woah' sometimes on the sidelines because I can see his focus on the ball and that he is about to smash into somebody to get it."

Mowbray's comments serve as a warning for impending United boss Amorim, who may end up finding himself needing to intervene on the Carrington training ground should the youngest ever move to Manchester, just like the former Sunderland boss did.

"I shouldn't be stopping him and normally I don't but sometimes if it's the day before a game... and I did do recently when I saw that he was about to fly into a 50-50 with Jobe," Mowbray added. "But listen, that is a great quality. And he is a lovely footballer, too. Even at such a young age, he is a leader through what he does and how he trains, an amazing kid given his age."

Mowbray most recently took charge of Birmingham earlier this year as Wayne Rooney's replacement before resigning after just four months in charge due to ongoing health issues. The Saltburn-born manager insisted that Rigg will "undoubtedly" reach his lofty potential, should he continue to possess his current work ethic.

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"I enjoy watching the careers of the players that I've worked with and Riggy is one where you are thinking to yourself, where is he going to be when I watch him in 10 years time and he's 25, 26?

"In my opinion, undoubtedly at a top team in the Premier League if he keeps working like he does. Let's hope that top team is Sunderland, competing to get into Europe."

Rigg's performances have not only caught the eye of United with a number of top teams reportedly interested, including Real Madrid. Sunderland will try to keep hold of the youngster in the January window but are claimed to value the teen around the £25m mark.