'If I was advising Chris Rigg, I would say stay at Sunderland,' says former Black Cats striker

Chris Rigg has been told he is in 'the best possible hands' at Sunderland.

Chris Rigg has been urged to reject offers from elsewhere and stick with Sunderland by former Black Cats striker Don Goodman.

The 15-year-old has made a real name for himself this year, earning two appearances in the FA Cup and being denied becoming the competition’s youngest ever scorer by a linesman’s flag at Fulham.

He is being coveted by some of the biggest clubs in the country, as well as Newcastle United. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all keen to take him from Sunderland, who can’t tie him down to a professional contract until he is 17.

Sky Sports pundit Goodman, though, believes Rigg is exactly where he needs to be, and has the perfect coach if he wants to develop as a young player.

"I think Tony Mowbray would have watched his development, had him training with the first team and would have seen he was ready to play a few minutes,” Goodman told OLBG.

"Not a load of minutes, but enough to start his development process.

"I think that's what is going on and I don't think Chris Rigg could be in better hands than he is with Tony Mowbray.

"Regardless of any bids from any big clubs, if I was Chris Rigg, I would be looking at the way Sunderland want to move forward.

"They're a club developing young players, give them an opportunity, coach them and improve them as players.

"It's a long-term project at Sunderland and Rigg, if he's good enough, will get an opportunity.

"If he goes to another club, we've seen it before where they get stuck in their academies and eventually get loaned out where it doesn't quite work out.

"I just think he's in an environment with the right surroundings and the right head coach who will bring him along at the right rate.

"So, if I was advising him, I would say stay where you are, develop as a player and see where it takes you."

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