The influential full-back was back in the starting XI at the weekend
Ryan Giles missed a month or so with a hamstring injury(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Ryan Giles admits learning to cope with his recent hamstring injury was an alien experience, having never suffered from a muscle injury in his career so far.
Giles damaged his hamstring just three minutes into City‘s eventual 1-0 win at Middlesbrough just after Christmas, and spent five weeks on the sidelines.
That saw him miss five league and one FA Cup contest before marking his return last Tuesday night in the draw with Watford. Sergej Jakirovic restored him to the starting XI at the weekend against Bristol City.
The defender played 45 minutes in the Tigers’ defeat to the Robins, before coming off at half-time with boss Sergej Jakirovic keen to proceed with caution surrounding his comeback.
During his enforced break, though, City suffered just one defeat, which came on New Year’s Day against Stoke City, with Akin Famewo and Matty Jacob covering admirably in his absence.
‘It was my first muscle injury in my career so far, so it was a different experience for me,” Giles told the Tiger. “Obviously, with the type of athlete I tend to be, it was quite challenging, but I am obviously delighted to come through it and big thanks to the physio team and the sports science staff who have built a plan for me during the weeks I was off. It is just about coming back now and trying to stay fit and build up the minutes as you go; I am delighted to be back.
*The boys have been in great form, picking up results, especially during this period where we are at this stage of the season when points are really important. The pleasing thing for me was especially when the performances weren’t at the level that we want them to be at, we were still picking up points. I think that says a lot about the dressing room, so I was really delighted about that.”
“I want to keep playing games and keep thriving, but at the same time, it is about managing and not overdoing it, because these reinjuries in football can bite you. That is why the sports scientists are there and the physios to guide me through that. I am sure that when that opportunity comes for me, then I can reclaim that starting shirt and kick on.”
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