One of Sunderland's most successful academy graduates has heaped praise on the club's latest crop of emerging young talent.
Chris Rigg has started 19 of Sunderland's 21 league games, despite only turning 17 in June, while 18-year-old Tommy Watson started six straight games before missing Saturday's trip to Swansea through injury, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win at Stoke earlier this month.
Fellow academy graduate Dan Neil was installed as club captain this season while Anthony Patterson owns the number one shirt and Zak Johnson, Harrison Jones and Trey Ogunsuyi have also been part of the first-team squad this season.