I coached Chris Rigg and he's destined for the very top amid Manchester United transfer links

It was another start and another goal for Sunderland wonderkid Chris Rigg last week as Manchester United watch on. The Red Devils are among a number of clubs reportedly tracking the highly-rated England youth international - who continues to boast some of the best statistics in front of goal for players under the age of 20.

Only Lamine Yamal boasted better goal-creating actions per 90 minutes this season for players 20 or younger, than Rigg - a sensational statistic given the hype around the Barcelona winger. Despite the likes of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and United being linked with Rigg, he continues to play without pressure, maintaining his bright start to the campaign.

His goal against Leeds United was his fifth in 35 senior appearances for Sunderland - another impressive statistic given he only turned 17 in June earlier this year. Growing up in Hebburn, a town slap bang in between Newcastle and Sunderland, the two North east clubs battled it out for his signature as a youngster, with Rigg opting to sign forms with the Black Cats, rather than the team he supported as a youngster.

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Rigg spent the majority of his youth playing for Tyneside Pumas, before joining Sunderland as an eight-year-old, but would also play Futsal to a national standard with his mates at Hebburn Town - after befriending coach Steve Richardson's son Harry during their time in the Monkton youth leagues.

"My son - Harry and Riggy are best friends," Richardson told the Manchester Evening News: "They played against each other when they were young kids down at Monkton. Chrissy is actually a year older than Harry, but he's actually really young for his age, which is quite unheard of in academies.

"There was a study on academies not too long ago and it was always the lads who had September or October birthdays that were in academies and the younger lads from that academic year group, April, June birthdays were never really in academies because they were smaller lads.

"That was the thing with Chrissy when he was a young lad, his strength and his power, even though he was slight, it stood out over everybody. His pace - everything. That's probably always been the case with Chrissy, he always had that little bit extra, that bite and fight - a steely determination that you couldn't break.

"When he first started playing Futsal with my team, we had some top players who were also at Sunderland, he came along and it's a totally different game - although it's the same kind of principles, it's super fast, it's attacking. When the ball goes out of play, it's in within three seconds.

"It's almost like basketball, it's side to side constantly. You have to be switched on and quick, otherwise no matter how good you are, you're just lost in the whole game. When Chrissy first played, he assessed it and then went 'right, I know what I've got to do' and he just did it.

"Once he played it, he then just stood out. He was at the front of the court, the back of the court, it was almost like he was getting on the end of his won passes. He was making tackles and was just absolutely everywhere. The more he played, which links to him playing now, the better he got.

"He was like a Duracell bunny. How can you be there one minute, then there the next? Chrissy was very good in the number ten role as he was growing up for Sunderland. We always go down and try to watch him, in the Floodlit Cup, he's a close family friend, but the way he wins the ball coming back over, that backwards press, was something else.

"The amount of times he'd win that ball, I still mention it to my Under-15s. I'm not just some parent or family friend, I'm a UEFA B coach, a Level 2 Futsal, youth mod assessed, so I can see all of this stuff as well that he can do. It's great to be able to say to the lads 'You know Chrissy Rigg, well watch when he does this.'

"When he wins the ball in that backwards press, even if he just puts pressure on, he causes panic for players to rush the pass, or he wins the ball. You're more than likely going to get smashed if you hang onto it, which our players can identify with and it's great to be able to do that."

Rigg has become one of the first names on Regis Le Bris' Sunderland teamsheet, having broken into the starting XI last season under interim head coach Mike Dodds. Now a Championship regular despite his young age, he has all the mental attributes to reach the very top.

"Even when he's around you, I try my best not to talk to him about football, but because we're such football fans we always ends up talking about the game," Richardson added. "I never talk to him about his future and I don't want that to be taken the wrong way, I don't want to push him or give him any advice and he doesn't need it.

"He's so cool and calm in the house. He knows how good he is and that's not a bad thing. He knows when he goes out on that pitch he's going to give everything he's got, not a thing less. He knows his ability will help him as well.

"To have a player like that - Sunderland have got an absolute diamond. He's never not going to try. He's always going to give everything until he can't give anymore. He could probably play 100 to 180 minutes, I said before he's like a Duracell bunny but he's controlled with it as well. He'll play his position and do his job. The other thing is, he knows exactly what everyone else should be doing as well.

"For a young lad, he knows the game inside out and you can have a really good tactical conversation with him.

"He's been captaining the Under-18s from 16s. You could tell from an early age - he used to come and watch Harry and give him a little bit of advice. They used to play against each other for Hebburn School vs St. Aloysius School, which are really close.

"They had a good rivalry there but he used to give good advice. He knows the game and what he should be doing. He's a leader and you can see him playing for Sunderland and shouting at players much older than him, telling them what to do and where they should be. Which is intimidating really isn't it?"

Alan Browne is among those experienced Sunderland players working alongside Rigg, with the youngster currently keeping him out of the team. While some senior professionals might look down upon their youngster teammate with envy, Browne showed his class following the recent draw with Leeds United.

"There's a big thing about the age of our team but there's some serious talent in there," Browne said. "The way they play is beyond their years.

"I wasn't expecting them to be how good they are when I first came in but the talent is undeniable. Obviously Riggy is a top, top player, he can go right to the top. There's so many in there who can follow suit.

"The talk is around him because he's the youngest of the lot but they're all so young. You forget how young they are. A lot of them have played a lot of games now for their age, they play beyond their age and until you see what actual age they are, you can't comprehend it. It's hard to get your head around how good these players are at such a young age, hopefully they go on to match the expectations of them."

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