Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg has been named in England's under-17s squad ahead of their European Championship qualifiers this month having recently made his first start in the Championship.

Rigg will link up with Greg Lincoln's squad for fixtures with Hungary, Northern Ireland and France as the young Three Lions look to book their spot in May's finals in Cyprus with a top two finish in Group A. All three games will be hosted at St. George's Park over the course of the next week.

England reached the elite round qualifiers after wins over Croatia, Kosovo and Faroe Islands in November, although Rigg was not included in those squads. Having made history when becoming Sunderland’s youngest outfield player at just 15 years and 203 days old when making his debut in last season’s FA Cup third round tie with Shrewsbury Town, Rigg's rise has been well documented over the course of the last 18-months. 

 

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: Win pair of hospitality tickets for Sunderland vs Sheff Wed

 

The teenager was rewarded by interim head coach Mike Dodds recently with his full Championship debut in the 1-0 defeat to Leicester City at the Stadium of Light - a moment the 16-year-old described as a 'dream' before being handed consecutive starts in the 4-2 defeat at Southampton days later. 

Rigg is the club's youngest ever league goalscorer after netting in the 5-0 win in the reverse fixture with Southampton back in September having scored his first goal for the club in the League Cup tie with Crewe Alexandra earlier this season. 

Rigg has already made over 25 appearances for England at international youth level and will look to continue to impress Lincoln and the staff at St. George's Park over the next week during the international break. 

 

READ MORE: Chris Rigg hoping for more after 'dream come true' in first league start

 

“Taking in to account he's a first-year scholar, people should be excited by Riggy," Sunderland interim head coach Dodds said following the defeat to Leicester. "I'm excited to work with him over the next few years. I think he's potentially a wonderful talent.

"I think he'll be a midfielder long-term and I think as time goes on he'll be a really important player for us."

Rigg added on his breakout season: “If someone told me all of this would happen at the start of the campaign, I’d have bitten their hand off.

"This is a real privilege for me. It is what I have dreamt of for a very long time. I am so grateful for the opportunities and hope there are many more to come.”