MICHAEL CARRICK is ready for some tough summer negotiating over Ryan Giles, after admitting the on-loan full-back has developed into a key part of Middlesbrough’s preferred attacking approach.

Giles is on a season-long loan from Wolves, and his performances at left-back have been a major factor in Boro’s rise up the Championship table under Carrick. His two assists in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Reading took him to nine for the season, more than any other player in the Championship.

Carrick is keen to sign Giles on a permanent basis in the summer, and provided Wolves retain their Premier League status this term, the Molineux are expected to be ready to talk terms over a possible sale.

However, Wolves officials will almost certainly attempt to drive a hard bargain, and Boro are unlikely to be the only club keen to hold discussions over the 23-year-old.

“It’s not just as simple as, ‘Would we like to keep him’,” admitted Carrick, who takes his side to Swansea City on Saturday. “There are obviously things that need to fall into place. Whether we keep some of the loan players or whether we don’t keep them, it’s not as easy as yes or no. But at the moment, the boys are doing really well and I’m delighted with the way it’s going.”

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Giles was in sparkling form at the weekend, putting Reading’s back four to the sword despite having spent most of the previous week battling against an illness.

“He’s been terrific, and he was quite ill actually at the start of the week,” said Carrick. “He was touch and go on whether he was going to make it, so credit to him for getting himself into a place where he was able to play.

“His attributes - being so quick and such a good left foot - make him a big part of our attacking structure and strategy.

"There was a time when teams could see him doing so well and they were looking at that and shutting it off. So, we’ve had to find other ways to attack and stretch teams. But when he gets into those positions, as he has done, he’s such a massive threat.”