Jobe Bellingham vs Chris Rigg: Which Sunderland star has had best 24/25 season after duo nominated for awards

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Both Sunderland starlets have been impressive during the 2024/25 Championship campaign and have been shortlisted for end-of-season awards.

Sunderland have booked their place in the Championship play-offs with a handful of games to spare after Regis Le Bris’ side took the second tier by storm.

In Le Bris’ first full season at Sunderland, he’s taken the Black Cats from relegation candidates to the play-off places, even scorching to the summit for several weeks earlier in the campaign.

The Frenchman has been nominated for the Championship Manager of the 2024/25 Season award, with two of his Sunderland mainstays also shortlisted for respective accolades.

Jobe Bellingham is amongst the contenders for Young Player of the Season and Chris Rigg is nominated for Apprentice of the Season Award, but which Sunderland midfield starlet has statistically enjoyed the better season?

• READ MORE: Regis Le Bris must learn from Liam Manning’s tactics in reverse fixture

Jobe Bellingham vs Chris Rigg: 2024/25 Championship seasons compared

In Le Bris’ first term in the Sunderland dugout, Bellingham and Rigg have been two of his most-trusted regulars, despite both still being in their footballing infancy.

The Frenchman’s game model in-possession centres around the 4-3-3 formation, with Dan Neil sitting at the midfield base as deep-lying pivot with Rigg on his right side and Bellingham on his left side as the outside ‘8s’.

Without the ball, Le Bris’ Sunderland shift into a rigid 4-4-2 block, with Bellingham dropping alongside Neil centrally, and Rigg stepping forward as a second striker to trigger Sunderland’s press.

Jobe Bellingham

Borussia Dortmund have been tracking Bellingham and it’s clear to see why after his stellar season for Sunderland.

Last season, he was shoehorned into forward roles given Sunderland’s injury crisis and managed to score seven in his 45 Championship appearances. This term, Bellingham has made the box-to-box role in Sunderland’s midfield his own, playing an imperative role for Le Bris across all thirds of the pitch.

The former Birmingham City youngster has seven direct goal contributions in 36 starts this season, with his physical defensive presence matched by his game-winning moments driving at the opposition’s box.

If Bellingham’s impact this season could be defined in a nutshell it would be his performance in the 3-2 comeback win at Swansea in December.

19-year-old Bellingham won the ball back in Swansea’s half to lay Neil off for his stunning long-range strike to put the clash back on level terms. Minutes later, with the Black Cats’ tails up, Bellingham would crash the Swansea box with perfect timing to emphatically dispatch Patrick Roberts’ low cross and send the travelling Sunderland supporters behind the goal into raptures.

Much like his elder brother, Bellingham was born to be a game-winner, and has done so on so many occasions for Sunderland this season as he did in South Wales to maintain their title charge.

Chris Rigg

As with his fellow Sunderland starlet, Rigg’s season has been the latest milestone in his stardusted career.

Buoyed off the back of his record-breaking season last term, Rigg has become a regular Championship starter at the tender age of 17, and has undoubtedly justified the faith show in him by Le Bris.

Manchester United have been keeping tabs on Rigg after the youngster has stolen headlines so often during his 38 Championship appearances this season.

The Academy graduate turned first-team star has notched four goals and one assist this season, with some spectacular moments enjoyed in the process.

The audacious and fearless nature Rigg yields has been mirrored in his season and was perfectly illustrated with his outrageous backheel winner in the early 1-0 win over regional rivals Middlesbrough.

His daredevil display in front of 45,000 supporters perfectly encapsulated the sheer quality Rigg possesses, in body and mind.

Jobe Bellingham vs Chris Rigg: Who has had the best season

The Sunderland duo face some stellar competition for their respective awards.

Rigg is up against Cardiff City’s Ronan Kpakio and Stoke City starlet Souleymane Sidibe, with Bellingham battling with Shea Charles of Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley star CJ Egan-Riley.

Without the persistent presence and performances of Bellingham and Rigg this season, Sunderland’s title charge and ensuing play-off campaign would not have came to fruition. 6,026 minutes of football have been played and 12 goal contributions notched combined between the two as both their stocks continue to rise.

Both being wanted by top flight outfits shows the level the teenage talismen have performed at this season, but Bellingham’s sheer consistency and output has made him a monstrous midfield talent for Championship rivals to contend with.

Rigg has been remarkable, but often in remarkable moments rather than games. His Boro backheel and Blackburn Boxing Day equaliser were magical, but given it his first full senior season, his performances have been inconsistent at times.

Rigg and Bellingham are destined for footballing greatness, and can achieve that feat in the play-offs this season with Sunderland, but it is the latter who has been the most crucial cog in the Black Cats’ promotion push across the Championship campaign.

Both are in line to feature for Sunderland against Bristol City on Good Friday.