City know three points in the capital are an absolute must to keep their play-off hopes alive
Ryan Giles made his return to the starting line-up at Leicester City(Image: Stephen White – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Ryan Giles has declared himself ready to help Hull City’s cause as the Tigers go in search of a huge three points at Charlton Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.
Giles made his first start in two months at Leicester City on Tuesday night and managed to get 90 minutes under his belt as the Tigers were held to a 2-2 draw that saw them drop out of the top six, owing to Wrexham’s win at lowly Oxford United.
The influential full-back had only played 20 minutes at the weekend after an 11-game absence, but with City needing their top players back and available, Sergej Jakirovic opted to take the risk he’d been speaking about.
Giles, though, says he’s ready and raring to go should he be called upon at The Valley on Saturday, and City will hope won’t be their final away game of the season.
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“I’m OK. It’s good to be back. Glad to get back in the team on Tuesday night,” the full-back told Hull Live. “It’s cliché if you like, I probably would have had it managed more if it were earlier on, but we are where we are.
“I’ve got to get on with it, and if the manager wants me to play, I’ve got to give it everything, and that’s also where I stand with it right now.
“There’s risks to everything. I got injured, coming back last time, and I can’t remember how many games I played, four or five games, got injured again, but we’re playing for something, and I wanna be a part of it, so timing or what, the timing’s not there, I’ve just got to give it everything, and see what happens.
“The hamstrings felt good, physically I probably felt a bit tired, but I think that’s pretty natural considering I ain’t really kicked a ball for the last two months or not played any football. That was to be expected, but the hamstrings feel good, which is good; it’s just all about recovery protocols now. If the manager wants me to step over that white line on Saturday, I’m more than ready, and I’m ready to give it a good go.”
City were in the top six for 137 days before falling out on Tuesday. At one point, they had a seven-point gap to the chasing pack and were even eying second place.
A run of just two wins in 10 games has seen their cushion eroded, and Wrexham have taken advantage. Giles admits there’s natural disappointment that the Tigers have allowed their position to slip, but he says full focus is on winning against the Addicks and believing they can still finish inside the top six.
“It’s disappointing, of course, cos we we had obviously a decent margin on some teams, which is fair enough, and I get that, and we feel that as well as everyone else does,” he continued.
“We’re still in a position; there’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves now because if we do do that, then it’s gonna go against us. We need to get back on the horse and put this right.
“This business end of the season’s different, I think, than when you’re in the middle of the season, because it’s just all about winning at the end of the day when you’re in these sort of positions. We always wanna perform well, but at the same time, we understand that at this stage of the season, it’s just all about winning, so whatever it takes to win that game on the weekend, we have to do that.
“We’ll be aware that Charlton are a good side as well, and they’ve got a good manager in Nathan Jones, who is very well respected and knows the leagues. We know what we’ve got to do, and hopefully we can do that.”
City will be back by just short of 3,000 travelling supporters at The Valley, and Giles’ message is clear. Bring the noise. “That’s absolutely brilliant,” he said of City’s travelling support heading to the capital for the 12:30 kick-off. “Numbers like that, travelling what, the best part, I’m guessing what, three or four hours, even more than that, it’s magnificent.
“We really want to give them what they deserve. We appreciate it’s probably nervy times for them, but all I would ask is just stick with us, bring the noise, we’re gonna need it.
“I’m sure their fans will probably bring the noise cause they need to stay up as well, and they need a point, so I’m sure it’ll be an entertaining day on Saturday, and it’ll be a nice day for it, so just stick with us. It’s not over. It’s certainly not over.
“We’ve still got a brilliant chance regardless of what the table says, goal difference, there’s, what, two goals in it? That, in my opinion, is absolutely nothing, so we’ve still got a brilliant opportunity, so let’s all stick together, and hopefully we can get the job done.”
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