Chris Rigg and Adil Aouchiche have reinforced their bids for additional game time between now and the end of the season, impressing Mike Dodds during Sunderland’s defeat to Leicester City.
Dodds gave Rigg his first Championship start, and he impressed with an active performance, especially in the second half, when he caused serious issues for the visitors. The temporary head coach stated that the 16-year-old performed so well that he stayed on the field for longer than expected, adding that fans can look forward to seeing his progress in the following weeks and months.
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“I really liked his [Rigg] performance,” Dodds stated.
“I thought he was really selfless in terms of the out-of-possession situation because they changed one or two things that we didn’t expect. Riggy seems to adjust very well. The idea was to squeeze an hour out of him, but I knew he was going to the well.I knew he’d give us everything, so I thought it was a great game for him, because we needed everyone to empty the tank. I just thought he was so good in the second half that I kept him on for as long as I could, despite the fact that he’s a first-year scholar. People should be thrilled about Riggy. I’m looking forward to working with him over the next few years; I believe he has the potential to be a great talent.”