Sunderland AFC news: Jack Colback’s 27-word message to Chris Rigg amid Newcastle United transfer links

Recently, Jack Colback, a former player for Newcastle United and Southampton, was questioned about the future of promising young player Chris Rigg.

The 16-year-old wonderkid has captured the attention of the football community

when he made his Sunderland FA Cup debut last season at the age of 15. Rigg

has scored twice this season, once against Southampton in the

Championship and once against Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup.

Rigg’s emergence led to transfer interest from just about every major football club in the world, including North East rivals Newcastle United. However, the youngster was persuaded to remain on Wearside, signing a two-year scholarship deal at the club last summer.

The 34-year-old Colback came up through Sunderland’s youth and played

135 games for the Black and Whites before making the controversial switch

from Wearside to Tyneside to join Newcastle United in 2014.

In response to the question of whether he would counsel Rigg, who shares Colback’s familial ties to Newcastle

United, to pursue a career similar to his own, Colback told Tribalfootball.com: “It

depends on how long the deal is… You will always be hated by Sunderland

supporters, but I have no regrets about what I did.”

During the 2017–18 season, Colback went on loan to Nottingham Forest and

subsequently secured a permanent position at the City Ground.

Under Steve Cooper, the Newcastle-born player assisted Forest in returning to the Premier League through the play-offs. Nevertheless, Colback signed a summer contract with the Londoners and is currently at Championship side QPR.

On Boxing Day, Sunderland will play Hull City in the Championship at the KCOM Stadium.