Tony Mowbray sees youngster Chris Rigg as a fringe first-teamer after handing the 15-year-old his senior debut in Sunderland's FA Cup win at Shrewsbury Town.
Rigg came off the bench for the final nine minutes of the third round tie, becoming the club's youngest ever outfield player at the age of 15 years and 203 days - and the club's second youngest player overall, with only goalkeeper Derek Forster, who made his debut in 1964 at the age of 15 years and 185 days, ahead of him.
Academy product Rigg is very highly-rated by the Sunderland coaching staff and, while the teen is still at school, he is training with the club a couple of times a week and head coach Mowbray says from now on he will work with the first team. Mowbray says the step up to working with senior players is a 'sink or swim' moment - and he is convinced that Rigg will swim.
