Boss a huge factor in me winging way here - Giles
RYAN Giles has described how Chris Wilder played a crucial part in his decision to join Middlesbrough on loan this summer.
The Boro boss said exactly what the Wolves starlet wanted to hear as he completed a season-long loan from the Premier League outfit.
After an impressive season last term saw him register ten assists during loan spells with Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers, Giles had plenty of interest in his services this summer.
He had a decision to make as Wolves still felt another season of regular Championship football was needed for his development.
The positive, attack-minded player has been tipped to excite Boro fans by Wilder and the leftsided wide man has revealed so many of the things the Boro boss said to him excited him and made him feel like the move to Teesside was the right one for him.
Speaking for the first time since completing his temporary move, Giles said: “I’m buzzing to be here and getting it all done early is an added bonus which means I can get in with the boys and settle in early on and I’m already looking forward to the first game of the season.
“I already know Matt Crooks from Rotherham and Marcus Tavernier too from a little spell we had together at England. That always helps.
“I’ve had a lot of loan moves now and two seasons in the Championship so I’m hoping to come in and just keep building on what I’ve learned so far and hopefully with that results go our way as well.
“I had a conversation with the manager and really bought into what he wants to do here.
“I think it’s really exciting, especially for a manager of his calibre with what he did at Sheffield United.
“After having that conversation with him it was a no-brainer for me really.
“You then come here and see the facilities etc and it just feels like a great club for me to be in.”
Giles added: “The manager just told me he wants me to come here and do what I’m good at and that for me was another key factor in my decision. When I hear that from a manager, that’s all I want to hear.”
Last season Giles excelled at Cardiff City and was moved to Blackburn Rovers in the January, Wolves seeing the Ewood Park outfit as a better environment for the youngster given they were challenging at the top end of the Championship.
While Giles still had impressive games he wasn’t as consistent at Blackburn, the regular switching of formations and positions not helping him.
He excelled at Cardiff when playing regularly as a left wingback, which is what’s intended of him at Boro, and given the Teessiders harbour ambitions to challenge at the very top of the division next term it was another factor for Giles in choosing the switch to the Riverside Stadium over the other options he had.
He continued: “We spoke about those ambitions for next season too – his ambitions to get this club back into the Premier League – and the drive to do that.
“The demands he makes of players are only going to make you a better player. That’s just another reason why I wanted to come here.”
I had a conversation with the manager and really bought into what he wants to do here. It’s really exciting
Ryan Giles