It’s been a dream come true for me, says Rigg

“A DREAM come true” is how Chris Rigg described breaking into the Sunderland starting XI for the first time.

It was back in January, the 16-year-old became Sunderland AFC’S youngest-ever outfield player at 15 years and 203 days.

Fast forward 424 days and the teenager has made his first league cup start, his first Championship start and grabbed his first competitive goal. “This has been a dream come true for me, too see my name in the starting XI was a surreal moment,” Rigg told the club.

Interim head coach Mike Dodds had no hesitation in handing the midfielder his first league start against former Premier League champions Leicester City on Tuesday night in the 1-0 defeat.

It was hard to take in for the youngster who continued: “I was eight years old when Jamie Vardy and Leicester won the Premier League and now I’m chasing him down to win the ball back.

“I don’t tend to think about who I am playing against too much because I aim to go out there and compete at the highest level and give everything for Sunderland but that was a bit surreal.

“We are disappointed with the defeat, and I believe we deserved a lot more from the game, but I really enjoy playing at the Stadium of Light and in front of our supporters.

“There are positives to take, especially from the second half. We played with intensity that gives us a foundation to take into the next game.”

It has been a season to remember for the Academy of Light graduate who has also found his feet on the international scene, representing England at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia.

“If someone told me all of this would happen at the start of the campaign, I’d have bitten their hand off,” he added.

“Doddsy spoke to me before the game and just said enjoy it.

“This is a real privilege for me. It is what I have dreamt of for a very long time.

“I am so grateful for the opportunities and hope there are many more to come.”