'Brilliant young talents playing without fear' - Owers

Chris Rigg has scored five goals in 41 Championship games at the age of just 17

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.

Sunderland-born Gary Owers came through the Black Cats academy in the 1980s and went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club, including the 1992 FA Cup Final.

He later joined Bristol City and, after a spell in management, currently works as a summariser for BBC Radio Bristol.

Owers told the Sunderland website: "They are brilliant young talents. I think it's great for the club as they've built a reputation for producing young players.

"More importantly I think it's great for the supporters who really associate with young players coming through. They play without any fear.

"Hopefully we can keep them because often at this level, anyone that shows any signs of talent often leaves."

He added: "Sunderland belong in the Premier League, they've got unbelievable support.

"The manager (Regis Le Bris) has come in and had an impact. Hopefully they can keep that momentum and it can take them all the way to the end of the season so the fans can celebrate."