‘Revelation’ – How ex-Middlesbrough favourites Ryan Giles and Matt Crooks are doing at Hull City
Hull City correspondent Barry Cooper offers the lowdown on Middlesbrough’s next opponent and two familiar faces
Matt Crooks and Ryan Giles will face off against Middlesbrough on Friday evening(Image: Getty Images)
Middlesbrough will come up against a rejuvenated Hull City on Friday evening, with two familiar faces very much at the heart of their much-improved season.
The Tigers sit seventh in the Championship ahead of second-placed Boro’s visit to the MKM Stadium. It’s a massive improvement under new boss Sergej Jakirovic after flirting so closely with relegation last term.
While there are many dangermen for Boro to consider on Friday, notably in-form top scorer Joe Gelhardt, there are two former Boro favourites who have also played crucial roles at Boro.
Refinding his best form from his first loan spell on Teesside, Ryan Giles is back playing with confidence and getting heavily involved in creating goals again, having recovered from his disappointing second loan spell at the Riverside last term.
Offering insight into Boro’s next opponents, Hull Live’s correspondent Barry Cooper Told Teesside Live: “Giles has been a revelation this season. Pretty much from the moment Sergej Jakirovic arrived, he has been a player transformed and the stats back it up.
“He’s already got seven assists, which is more than anybody else in the league, and with Oli McBurnie on the cusp of returning to fitness, that figure will surely rise given he’s created five goals for the Scotsman.
“Defensively, Sergej Jakirovic has helped improve him, which has made his all-around game impressive and the fans are very much on side, something they hadn’t been before.
“It’s probably as well as he’s played on a consistent basis since he had his first loan spell at Boro under Michael Carrick. It’s been really enjoyable to see him enjoying his football again, playing with a smile on his face and having a positive impact on games.”
The other Boro favourite is of course Matt Crooks. He joined the Tigers in January and quickly established himself as a fan-favourite on Humberside, just like at Boro, with his infectious character. There was a major moment to thank him for too.
Barry explained: “Boro fans will know all about him and what he brings to the party. When he arrived in January, he looked like he’d been playing in the MLS, but now looks a lot fitter and stronger.
“That said, it was his goal at Pompey on the final day that effectively kept the Tigers in the Championship after a dismal campaign last term.
“Hampered by injury early in the campaign, that set him back, and since the win over Leicester City, where he slipped inside the box, he’s been playing with some kind of chest issue that will, at some point, require surgery.
“He’s not lost his knack for picking up the odd silly booking, though. A case in point was a daft stoppage time yellow at QPR, which saw him banned for the Ipswich Town game last week, and then he got his sixth at Stoke moments after his terrific foot in helped the Tigers go on and get the winning goal. He’s a big character, an influential figure and one that City appreciate having.”
And of Hull’s much improved season collectively, Barry concludes: “For the Tigers to have been inside the top six and now just a point outside of it is a testament to the work done by Sergej Jakirovic since taking over.
“Given he inherited a fragmented squad that had survived on goal difference (and last season’s lowest scorers), then was thrust into transfer chaos two days into his tenure, he’s done a stunning job.
“City are a team transformed. Yes, they concede a lot of goals but score, too. Only Coventry have netted more than the 30 City have so far, and they’ve got themselves in the mix without ever being able to call upon their strongest team.
“Mo Belloumi and Liam Millar ( both ACL) returned after a year out before picking up hamstring injuries, while McBurnie has been out for six weeks. John Lundstram missed nine games, Crooks was out, and then Kasey Palmer has been sidelined, too. January signing from Monaco, Eliot Matazo, is also still out with an ACL.
“In summary, it’s not been easy for him, but they keep getting results and responding to setbacks. How far they can go this season remains dependent on keeping their influential figures fit and available.
“But to even be in the play-off conversation after the last season and the summer shows what fine progress they’ve made under Jakirovic. City fans are just enjoying watching their team again, both home and away, which counts for a lot. Smiles are very much back on faces, and long may that continue.”
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