Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Sun 4 May 2025 21:00, UK

Jobe Bellingham has been a standout performer for Sunderland this season, but it was very different for the 19-year-old in a previous campaign.

Off the back of the 1-0 defeat to QPR, Sunderland’s regular season is finished, though three (hopefully) cup finals await them in the playoffs.

Sunderland will face Coventry in the semi-final, and should they advance, they will meet either Bristol City or Sheffield United at Wembley, but for that to happen, Regis Le Bris needs to learn from a mistake that haunted the Black Cats last season.

Chris Rigg is suffering from burnout at Sunderland

Chris Rigg is an exceptional talent, but his form as of late has been very underwhelming, arguably dating back to the turn of the year.

There’s one reason for that, and it is the fact that he has played and started almost every game this season when available, and for a 17-year-old, that shouldn’t be the expectation.

The Black Cats aren’t blessed with midfield options, but they have enough to rotate, and Regis Le Birs, throughout the season, hasn’t done that with Rigg.

Sunderland, albeit not Le Bris, did the exact same thing with Jobe in a previous season, and his performances suffered massively as a result, as did his reputation for a short while.

To put it straight, Rigg needs to be used as an impact player over the next few weeks if the Wearsiders are to make it to the final of the playoffs.

Le Bris must change the mentality at Wearside

Since a playoff place was sealed, Sunderland have looked light years away from the team that secured a fourth-place finish, and much of it comes down to mentality.

Le Bris needs to change that, and with some Sunderland fans already calling for him to be sacked, time is running out for him to do it with the first leg of their clash with Coventry just five days away.