Ryan Giles' Middlesbrough role, the positive effect it should have, and what that means for Bola

Chris Wilder has made his intentions for Ryan Giles clear by handing the new signing the number three jersey at Middlesbrough. While the squad numbers are not officially submitted to the EFL until closer to the start of the new season, Giles will wear the number vacated by Neil Taylor this summer during his season-long loan on Teesside.

It's a significant call from the Boro boss who has made clear that in bringing the 22-year-old in from Wolves, he expects Giles to be his starting left wing-back next term. He was strong in his opinion that Giles' positivity can help rectify the imbalance that existed last term as Isaiah Jones provided so much of Boro's outlet on the right, without the same coming from the left.

With Marc Bola injured, Taylor proved an astute free signing for Wilder and did a steady job for the Boro boss during a very positive period for the club. But even as Boro went on a great run up the table and Jones tore sides apart with his pace and positivity on the right, signs began to show that if you could eliminate the Jones threat, Boro would struggle to create openings. Taylor's strengths were defensively rather than offensively.

That imbalance had to be addressed and certainly in the first half of last season when at Cardiff and playing on his favoured left side, Giles topped the league's assist charts by January and was one of the most creative and attacking players in the division. That did not escape Wilder's attention.

While Wolves recalled Giles from Cardiff and were uncertain on what to do next with Giles before sending him to Blackburn very late on in the window, Boro decided to stick to what was working, with the hope being that Bola would soon be back and Taylor deserved to see the season out