Chris Rigg caution urged for Sunderland AFC and Regis Le Bris ahead of Hull City | OneFootball

There are plenty in Regis Le Bris’ squad in dire need of a break

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sunderland are welcoming Hull City to the Stadium of Light this weekend in Saturday afternoon’s early kick-off.

It should, on paper, be an easier task for the Black Cats than the one they faced last time out: away at table-toppers Leeds United on a Monday night.

But the promotion hopefuls cannot get complacent and will need full focus on the Tigers to get a result.

We asked our Sunderland Fan Pundit, Jordan, for his thoughts on the line-up manager Regis Le Bris should select for the upcoming clash.

Fan Pundit pleads for Chris Rigg rest

Speaking to Football League World, Jordan said: “The one change I would make is, it’s not a bad one, it's just giving [Chris] Rigg a rest for [Romaine] Mundle. Put [Enzo] Le Fee in the attacking-mid role, and then have Mundle back on the left.

“It gives us a chance to look at Le Fee in the middle of the park. It gives Mundle his run in after his injury, and it gives Rigg rest.

“So, it does have plenty of positive sides, and we get to see Le Fee in action in his natural position. We get to see Mundle back, see how he plays and see how the team plays all together because some of them do need a rest and we can't keep using them when they're so tired because they're not going to play most of the game or they're not going to get into the game as much.

“So, I'd say give Rigg a rest and bring Mundle in.”

Key Sunderland players will need rotating at some point

It is often said to not change a winning formula, but you also can’t mount sustained pressure on the top of a league table with a squad running on empty.

There are currently 10 players, including Rigg, in the Black Cats’ ranks who have played over 2000 minutes of football this season.

Three of those — Luke O’Nien, Trai Hume and Dan Neil — have clocked more minutes than goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, with the latter two set to break the 3000-minute mark against Hull if they play the full game.

However, Jordan is right to focus the need for rest on Chris Rigg, given he is still just 17 years old and experiencing his first full season as a first-team regular.

Often in these scenarios, players need saving from themselves.

An ambitious young prospect like Rigg will likely never turn round to a manager and request a game off, but for a developing player, careful management is needed.

Minutes are important for that development, but the season is mentally and physically draining for an experienced player, never mind a teenager. The worst thing for Rigg, and Sunderland, would be for an injury to force him off the pitch for an extended period of time.

While Le Bris understandably doesn’t want to tinker too much with a squad that is performing so well, it’s much better to be in charge of the changes himself rather than have them dictated to him further down the line through fitness concerns.

The manager has great squad options, so a game against relegation battlers like Hull is the perfect opportunity to make a few subtle changes, ensuring the squad is as refreshed as possible for the gruelling finish to the season ahead.