CHRIS WILDER is hoping Middlesbrough new boy Ryan Giles will have the same impact as a wing-back next season that Isaiah Jones had in the previous campaign.

Giles has joined Boro on a season-long loan from Wolves, having had two separate loan spells in the Championship last season with Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers.

The 22-year-old can play anywhere on the left-hand side, but has been pencilled in to fill the left wing-back slot in Wilder’s preferred starting line-up for next season.

Jones will be starting at right wing-back, and having watched one youngster emerge as one of the brightest talents in the Championship last season, Wilder is hoping Boro will boast another breakthrough star this term.

“Ryan’s a really bright young player that’s had experience of the Championship,” said the Boro boss. “I think he’ll bring those qualities that we want on the left-hand side.

“We’ve undoubtedly got those qualities on the right with Jonah (Isaiah Jones), and now that will get matched up on the left-hand side. I think we all understand what Izzy did in a short period of time last season, and hopefully he will continue that form. What we wanted to do was match it up on the left-hand side, and I believe we’ve done that now.

“He’s (Giles) a player that was hugely coveted in the summer. I should imagine from his point of view, he’s watched us as well, and he’s seen that this is a team and a club that’s going places. He wants to be part of that.”

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Giles claimed nine assists in the first half of last season with Cardiff City – more than any other Championship player – and his attacking attributes are one of the key reasons why Wilder was so keen to recruit him this summer.

He will have defensive responsibilities as part of Boro’s back five, but Wilder will be encouraging him to get on the front foot as much as possible.

“His stats at the top of the pitch are great, so hopefully he can continue that in a possession-based team,” he said. “We need to make sure we get the ball to him in the positions we want him in, like we did with Jones.

“And hopefully, he can have the same effect that Izzy did on the left-hand side, and then that will balance us off. Of course, he’ll have defensive duties, and we’ll work on that with him. But he’s a really exciting young player that I’m sure will make us better in his position.”