Chris Rigg discusses the summer so far and his hopes for the season ahead

Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg has remains level-headed amid his impressive spell in pre-season.

Rigg is just 16 years old, but already people are starting to wonder whether he could be one of the next big things in football.

And he's given them reason to believe that as well with another goal in the friendly v San Antonio last time out.

Rigg's maturity is also being praised - in his recent post-match interview he spoke very humbly about his pre-season so far, which started with him signing a two-year scholarship despite interest from the Premier League

And speaking to The Northern Echo, Rigg had this to say on the summer so far:

"Hopefully the gaffer and Doddsy (Mike Dodds, first team coach) are impressed and I can carry on into the season with a few goals as well.

"It's great to help the team out. It's been really good this pre-season. It's my first of hopefully many with this club.

"The fans have been great, the lads have been great, the coaches have been great. Hopefully we can kick on, I can't wait for the season to kick off. I'm buzzing."

And Rigg hopes to carry his form into the 2023/24 season, saying:

"Obviously it's tough just doing my GCSEs and stuff but the lads have been great, honestly absolutely great, but it's a young squad so that has helped massively. I'd like to think I'm not out of place but I just have to keep going.

"I just need to do my own thing, not worry about all the comments. I'm there because of me. It's great help (from teammates) but I just need to keep doing what I'm doing."

For Rigg, the future looks very bright. But Tony Mowbray is experienced enough and good enough at developing younger players that he won't put Rigg in too deep.

Expect Rigg to be playing youth football next season but expect to see him in and around the first-team on occasions - cup games maybe and the occasional Championship fixture.

But it's certainly an exciting time for the player who's turning a lot of heads this summer.

Read more Sunderland news