Chris Rigg asked big Newcastle United question on huge week for Sunderland

One of the most heartwarming stories of the season is without a doubt Dan Burn’s history-making goal at Wembley, fulfilling a childhood dream of scoring for his boyhood club.

It’s a dream for anyone growing up in a Newcastle household to play for the Toon and become a true local hero like Burn and Alan Shearer amongst others.

But for one player who grew up north of the Tyne, he’s revealed where his allegiances and ambitions as a player actually lie…

Rigg tackles tricky Toon question

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sunderland star Chris Rigg addressed questions over which club he supports and where he wants to play in the future.

Long rumoured to be a Newcastle fan, and having been strongly linked to the club for a few years now, it’s the first time the 17-year-old has been publicly asked about the Newcastle/Sunderland dynamic in his life.

And it’s not good reading for any Toon fans hoping to see Rigg sign on Tyneside anytime soon, not that it's an easy question to answer for the teenager ahead of their play-off meeting with Coventry this week!

“The best decision I made was coming to Sunderland. For them to put me in the team at 15, I don’t think many would take that risk," he said.

"It’s been so important for me. I could have signed for Premier League clubs and not played anywhere near the number of games.

On rumours linking him with a move away, he added: “I don’t listen to any of the speculation. I’ve got far more important things to worry about, like trying to get Sunderland promoted.”

A Sunderland star from a Newcastle-supporting family

We’ve seen with Anthony Gordon at Everton what it’s like when a star plays for the team the rest of the family cannot stand.

But in the case of Chris Rigg, you have to commend the midfielder’s commitment to Sunderland despite coming from a family of devout Geordies; although he joked that his dad may be a secret Mackem!

“Sunderland are my club, I’ve been here my whole life. I come from a family of Newcastle fans, there is no point hiding that, but it changes when you play for Sunderland in front of those fans.

“My family being Newcastle fans has no impact on me, it doesn’t change the way I feel about Sunderland. The fans have been unbelievable. They could have thought, ‘Nah, he’s a Newcastle fan’ or whatever, but I think I’ve shown what this club means to me. It’s not really a debate.

“My dad gives me a little bit of stick, but he comes to all Sunderland’s games. I think he is a secret Mackem now. He puts his son above everything, he loves watching me and he absolutely loves coming to our games.”

And even if Sunderland fail to get promoted to the Premier League, Rigg still hopes that an England call up could be in his future.

“If you look at the England squad, virtually all of them have played in the EFL at some point, whether that was on loan or starting their career in the lower leagues. It’s sped up my progress undoubtedly.”