TONY MOWBRAY is ready to hand Chris Rigg a first league appearance in the remaining eight matches of the Championship season, but admits he is not aware of any changes to the 15-year-old midfielder’s current contract situation.

Rigg, who does not turn 16 until June, made history when he became Sunderland’s youngest-ever outfield player as he left the bench in January’s FA Cup third-round win over Shrewsbury Town.

The teenager, who is only allowed to train with the Black Cats for two days a week because of his secondary-school commitments, has made two more FA Cup appearances against Fulham, but is yet to get his first taste of Championship football.

With the Black Cats’ hopes of making the play-offs hanging by a thread, that is set to change over the course of the next month, with Mowbray also considering handing a league debut to 16-year-old forward Tom Watson and 19-year-old midfielder Caden Kelly.

However, the Sunderland boss admits tomorrow night’s meeting with runaway league leaders Burnley is probably not the best game in which to blood unproven teenagers.

“Chris Rigg will come into my thinking for the remaining eight games,” revealed Mowbray. “You’re maybe looking at Rigg, (Tom) Watson and Caden Kelly – these are young players who are doing pretty well.

“It’s about opportunity really – if a space opens up, or I decide on any given day that we’re going to leave out one of the players that’s played a lot of football, then there’s the potential to maybe give one of the kids a start in these games that are left. But we have to pick the right one, and if I’m being totally honest, it’s probably not Burnley away.”

Rigg’s future has been the subject of feverish interest ever since he made his surprise senior debut at the turn of the year.

The Hebburn-based youngster joined Sunderland’s academy when he was still at primary school, and was the star of the Black Cats side that won the Under-15 Premier League Floodlit Cup last season.

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A former captain of England Under-16s, who has also represented his country at Under-17 level, his current youth contract is due to expire at the end of the season and he is yet to sign a senior deal.

That means Premier League clubs can offer terms of their own in the summer, with Newcastle United, Manchester United and Liverpool all having been credited with an interest in prising him away from the Academy of Light.

“To be honest, I’m not really sure what’s happening,” admitted Mowbray. “I don’t get involved on that side of things. I just try to work with the players, and obviously Chris is only in one or two days a week.

“I don’t see him very often, and I have no idea about that (contracts) side of things with him. Kristjaan (Speakman) is the guy who can give an update on that sort of stuff.”