SUNDERLAND expect to have Chris Rigg back in training and first team contention early next week after England's exit from the Under-17s World Cup.

The Young Lions were surprisingly knocked out at the round of 16 stage by Uzbekistan earlier this week, but after a long trip back from Indonesia, Rigg isn't yet back at Sunderland's training base and won't be travelling with the squad to Plymouth today ahead of tomorrow's Championship encounter.

Mowbray does, however, expect the 16-year-old to be back in the first team fold for when Huddersfield visit the Stadium of Light next Wednesday night. Rigg has been named in Sunderland's matchday squad for 13 of the 16 Championship games so far this season.

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"Whenever he gets back, I'm not 100% sure when, there's every chance he'll be back involved with the group training at the start of next week," said Mowbray.

"He won't be coming this weekend, he hasn't been in training today (Thursday) for instance.

"We have a game on Wednesday. We'll see how he is, how he feels and see how much the travelling has taken out of him or the game-time. He'll drop back into training and we'll see how he is."

It says everything about how highly valued and rated Rigg is by Sunderland that, despite his age, the midfielder will go straight back into the matchday mix.

Mowbray has worked with plenty of young talents during his time in management but Rigg stands out and the head coach is now challenging the teenager to force his way into the Sunderland starting XI.

"A lot of young players come and train with us and they're very talented and they're good," said Mowbray.

"Rigg is just a little bit special, I think. I put that down to, while he has a lot of talent, he has an amazing personality and attitude. That sets him aside a little bit.

"He has no fear of coming to train with the first team and actually engaging and competing and his place in the squad is warranted. I'm delighted he went away for a World Cup, it will have been a great experience for him. But he has to come back and as quickly as he can integrate himself back into training and get himself back in competition to get back in the starting team."

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While Rigg won't be involved at Plymouth, Jobe Bellingham looks set to keep his place in the team after benefiting from a welcome break during the international stoppage.

Despite having just turned 18, Bellingham has played in every Championship game so far this season as well as linking up with England's youth sides during international breaks - but it was decided by club and country that the midfielder was best off staying at home and resting up in this most recent pause.

Mowbray said: "He's had a break in this international window - he didn't go away with the international team and he's looked really good in training the last few days.

"Jobe is pretty unique in the age group he plays having played every Championship fixture this year. We're not talking about a young player with a few appearances off the bench here and there, 20 minutes or so. He's playing every match at Championship level and they are coming thick and fast.

"It's right that there's a discussion of the welfare of the player, we felt it was best [that he rests] and I think England felt that it was fair that he missed this one. They can see the minutes he's playing and the level he's playing at, and the benefits of that."