SUNDERLAND have developed a bespoke plan for Chris Rigg to ensure the teenage talent's development needs are met on Wearside - with club bosses of the belief that the young midfielder needs more exposure to faster football.

That's why the 15-year-old was handed his first team debut from the bench in the FA Cup win at Shrewsbury last weekend, and just 48 hours later was back in action for the Under-21s in the 7-5 defeat to Middlesbrough.

Tony Mowbray wants Rigg in and around the first team set-up in training when the youngster is on day release from school. But Under-21s boss Graeme Murty still has a crucial role to play in Rigg's development.

READ MORE: Who is Chris Rigg? Lifting the lid on Sunderland's teenage wonder-kid

The coaching staff from the first team and the age groups will continue to work together closely to ensure Rigg gets all the support he needs - on and off the pitch - to continue his development and reach his potential - hopefully at Sunderland. Rigg is unsurprisingly in-demand but Sunderland are doing all they can to show the youngster that they believe he's in the right place.

And while the midfielder is clearly well ahead of schedule, becoming Sunderland's youngest ever outfield player when he made his debut last week - coaches at the club are working hard to further develop his game.

"It's more about increasing his understanding of himself, his game and the game as a whole," explained Under-21s boss Murty.

"We don't want him just to understand how we would like him to influence the game, but he's an international now so it's understanding how international teams play.

"It's understanding how to impact the game both with and without the ball, so then making sure we keep a real keen eye on his development and make sure there are no areas missed.

"There are times, for example, when he can scan better away from the ball. As you move up a level that becomes imperative because you get less time on the ball so you need to know your options earlier.

"We sit down, go through a debrief for him and work from a bespoke programme to make sure hopefully all his development needs are met."

Murty says Rigg will continue to move between the first team and the Under-21s.

He said: "As it sits for the moment he's in our squad training with us, but his is an individual case, as with all the players. We're here to serve the first team. If they want to take him, we accommodate around that.

"He's an exciting young man. It was a hard game (against Middlesbrough) which won't be hurtful in the long run.

"But we need to give him more exposure to better players and faster football which will aid his development because there's no doubt he's a talent."

Rigg looks to have an exciting future in the game ahead of him but Sunderland won't let the teenager - or any of the club's other young players - fall behind with their studies.

Murty said: "We're very serious with all our young people that they maintain their education to a high standard. So we'll make sure for all of our players they get the requisite tutors and we make sure they don't fall behind."

Murty has previously compared Rigg to former Rangers and Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, who he worked closely with at Ibrox, but he doesn't necessarily see similarities between the pair as players, more the fact they're both supremely talented and both found themselves in the spotlight and in-demand at a young age.

Murty says: "They're very different types of player.

"Billy is more of a linker, a combiner, more technical based, whereas Chris is all-action. Even there, as a 15-year-old, you saw him trying to take a bit of responsibility and organise people around the game (against Boro). I don't like to contrast too much because you want to judge players on their own merits."

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It goes without saying that Rigg's first team debut can act as inspiration to his young academy teammates at Sunderland. First team boss Mowbray has a history of working well with young players and will give opportunities to those he deems good enough, regardless of their age. He was in attendance at Eppleton earlier this week for the Boro game, as he is for most Under-21s fixtures.

Murty said: "The first team staff are really interested in our young players and what they do.

"I think the gaffer is better than most at taking a longitudinal view of our players and looking at the long term development.

"Let's not kid ourselves, we are trying to perform at an elite level. Elite athletes are required to win games. Yes, we want to develop, improve, help people grow, but we want to help grow winners. We get paid to win, we don't get paid to train."