James Copley: The major Sunderland tactical question facing Régis Le Bris ahead of York City pre-season game

It is easy to forget Chris Rigg is still only 19, but he is approaching perhaps the biggest and most intriguing pre-season of his career so far. Remarkably, this will be Rigg’s fourth summer with Sunderland’s first-team squad. He was just 15 when he joined Tony Mowbray’s group ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, already carrying a reputation as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the Academy of Light in years. His rise since then has been meteoric and, in many ways, has mirrored Sunderland’s own. Rigg has scored winners against local rivals, eclipsed one of Gareth Bale’s Championship records, become Sunderland’s youngest outfield player and goalscorer and established himself as the youngest player to score in the League Cup. He has won EFL awards, helped Sunderland secure promotion to the Premier League, made close to 92 senior appearances and scored his first top-flight goal last season. His coming-of-age display against Newcastle United at St James’ Park offered another reminder of the personality and talent Sunderland have on their hands. This is a serious player. Yet this summer still feels significant. Rigg’s first Premier League campaign was always likely to bring a new challenge. He featured significantly less than he had during Sunderland’s promotion season as the club’s level rose and the competition for places intensified. After making 47 appearances across all competitions in 2024-25, he played 20 times last term, many of them from the right side of Sunderland’s attack rather than in his more natural central midfield position. That is what makes this pre-season so fascinating. Sunderland want to sign an elite right winger this summer. Should they succeed, the pathway to regular minutes in that position could narrow considerably for Rigg. Does Le Bris therefore move him back into central midfield? That brings its own challenge. Sunderland already have Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fée competing in that area, with each offering different qualities and carrying significant first-team status. It leaves Le Bris with an intriguing tactical decision. Rigg is a top talent, yet finding the role that maximises his development while also helping Sunderland compete at the highest level is not straightforward. Where he is used during the coming weeks could be particularly revealing. Sunderland have at least eight additional fixtures to negotiate in Europe this season, which should create more opportunities across the squad. Rotation will be required, injuries are inevitable, and Le Bris will need players capable of operating in multiple positions. Rigg’s versatility should therefore be a strength rather than a problem. He can play centrally, operate from the right and offer energy, aggression and intelligent movement between the lines. His willingness to receive the ball in difficult areas and his instinct for arriving in the box remain among his greatest qualities. Even so, the teenager would undoubtedly benefit from a strong pre-season. The position he occupies against York City on Saturday, and throughout Sunderland’s remaining warm-up programme, will provide an early indication of where Le Bris predominantly sees him during the campaign ahead. That does not mean one friendly will define his season. It will not. But patterns will begin to emerge, particularly when Sunderland’s strongest available side starts to take shape. One criticism directed at Rigg last season concerned the physical side of his game. There were moments when he needed to be stronger in duels or more capable of protecting the ball against powerful Premier League opponents. That was hardly unusual for a teenager adapting to the demands of the top flight, but it was an area for development. Rigg appears to have taken that challenge seriously. He has been training relentlessly during Sunderland’s off-season, adding private sessions with former Black Cats players Carl Lawson and Rees Greenwood. He has also worked alongside former Sunderland academy teammates Tommy Watson and Josh Robertson. Rigg has always possessed the mentality required to succeed, but improving physically could allow his technical qualities to become even more influential. If he can withstand contact more effectively, carry the ball through pressure and impose himself for longer periods, he will become a more complete Premier League midfielder. The experience of last season should also prove invaluable. Even when he was not playing regularly, he was training at a higher level, learning the rhythm of Premier League football and understanding the standards required to earn a place. This could be a massive campaign for Rigg’s development, but perspective remains important. He is still only 19. Progress at that age is rarely linear and a quieter season does not mean a player has stalled. The quality and depth Sunderland now possess means young players will not be handed minutes simply because of their potential. Rigg will have to earn his opportunities, just as every other player will. The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel. But this is also a footballer who sees his future as a regular Premier League starter. He has already achieved more than most players manage across an entire career and has repeatedly demonstrated that he is comfortable carrying expectation. The next step is proving he can influence Sunderland consistently at this level. Pre-season begins at York City on Saturday, but for Rigg it represents much more than another fitness exercise. It is an opportunity to show how he has developed, stake a claim for a clearer role and offer Le Bris another answer to one of the most interesting tactical questions facing Sunderland this summer. Your next Sunderland read: The big hints about Florent Ghisolfi's Sunderland transfer plans this summer and what to expect