Hull City rebirth continues v Southampton - Luton & Boro will have some regrets | OneFootball

Ryan Giles has returned to the MKM Stadium with a spring in his step so far this season

Hull City supporters are, at present, rightfully optimistic about how the season could transpire under Sergej Jakirovic's management after two strong post-international break results.

The Bosnian head coach's first summer in English football was certainly one of intrigue, as he and the MKM Stadium hierarchy saw their hands forced by the EFL as a result of a transfer fee restriction which lasted throughout the summer transfer window, and will once again be active in January.

Despite replacing Ruben Selles with Jakirovic, there were plenty of pre-season claims that the Tigers were in for yet another season of struggle. However, those who flock to HU3 most weeks couldn't have a more contrasting viewpoint as things stand, with the new boss continuously praised for adopting a system and style of play which suits the current crop of players down to the ground.

A handful of key performers have flourished in the early weeks of the campaign as a result, but there is one who is standing out from the rest, just months after it looked like his time in East Yorkshire could have reached its conclusion.

Ryan Giles initially struggled at Hull City between Luton Town, Middlesbrough stints

The signing of Ryan Giles - initially on a loan basis - from Luton Town on Deadline Day back in February 2024, was one which generated plenty of excitement in these parts, as it added to what was already a remarkable transfer window which included further temporary captures such as Fabio Carvalho and Anass Zaroury.

Giles had previously developed a strong reputation at Championship level in a handful of loan spells away from Wolverhampton Wanderers after progressing through the academy ranks in the West Midlands, none more so than during a first stint at Middlesbrough in 2022/23, where he posted 11 assists and created a further 23 big chances.

It wasn't the greatest of surprises when he was handed a maiden breakthrough in the Premier League with the Hatters after a then-club-record £5m deal. Unfortunately for the club and Giles, it was a gamble that never paid off, as he started just five of his 11 top-flight starts, unable to fully adjust to the unrelenting nature of the top flight.

Despite being one of several high-profile additions at the MKM since Acun Ilicali's takeover, Giles rarely pulled up any trees in his opening year for the club, although there was the obvious caveat of the Tigers having three head coaches in a spell of just six months.

After constant talk of a bizarre permanent return to Middlesbrough as Hull paid a £4m obligation inserted in the deal with Luton, Giles struggled massively under Tim Walter and Ruben Selles before failing to justify why Michael Carrick was so eager to forge a reunion, as an underwhelming period was summed up by an own goal on his second Boro debut against Sunderland in February.

Ryan Giles is now enjoying Hull City rebirth - Southampton were his latest assist victims

Despite sanctioning the aforementioned loan agreement, Hull failed to replace Giles, even temporarily, with a natural left-back in the winter window, whilst Sean McLoughlin - who operated at full-back under Selles - departed for Blackburn Rovers.

Given his previous showings, there was still plenty of skepticism as to whether the 25-year-old could turn his form around, and he has certainly done that in the first six games of the campaign.

Some will argue that Giles' defensive ability is questionable, but as seen in the latest success over Southampton, the presence of Lewie Coyle as his full-back colleague on the right side allows him to utilise his attacking prowess and impressive crossing technique, which Oli McBurnie is certainly reaping the rewards of.

Giles has posted three assists in six games thus far, with the 17-time Scotland international forward getting on the end of two low crosses against Oxford United and Swansea City before powering home a wicked delivery from the defender against the Saints on Saturday.

In truth, the Telford-born man could have added to his total, with Mads Roerslev and Tom Fellows down Will Still's right flank providing him with acres of space to bomb forward, as Hull almost took the lead inside five minutes with the same Giles-McBurnie combination before a vital intervention from Jack Stephens.

Giles' rebirth at the MKM has been proven as he sits joint-top with five others in the assist charts so far, and Jakirovic will be hoping such consistent performance levels continue against an out-of-form Watford.