Ryan Giles' contrasting Cardiff and Blackburn loan spells and Middlesbrough suitability assessed

Middlesbrough and Chris Wilder will be hoping they get the Ryan Giles that thrived at Cardiff City last season, rather than the one who struggled at Blackburn Rovers. And in the new Boro signing's defence, they will be expected to set up in a way which should lend itself to Giles doing exactly that during his stay at the Riverside.

Giles joined Middlesbrough this week on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He joins with Wilder hoping he can solve Boro's imbalance out wide, with his side struggling to emulate their attacking prowess on the right-hand side through Isaiah Jones on the opposite flank.

If Giles can rediscover his Cardiff City form, which saw him register nine assists in the first half of last season, then they will be on to a winner. The 22-year-old thrived in South Wales. Glen Williams witnessed his class first-hand while covering the Bluebirds for our sister site Wales Online.

Ryan Giles set exciting Morgan Gibbs-White challenge by Wolves for Middlesbrough loan

Assessing his brief spell at Cardiff, he told Teesside Live: "He was fantastic. The best player in an albeit woefully underperforming squad at the start of last season. It was a seismic blow when he was recalled by Wolves at the start of January. He was leading the league assists tally when he left, despite Cardiff scrapping near the bottom of the table. Put it this way, if the player of the season award was handed out halfway through the season, it was a one-horse race.

"Mick McCarthy played him as a left-winger almost, part of a front three, which is unfamiliar for him. That was more due to Cardiff's own transfer failings, though. But his numbers were unquestionable. He was Cardiff's most threatening attacking outlet and seemed to