Former Wolves boss Rob Edwards admits he did not anticipate Hull City ’s seamless transition to life in the Premier League – but he is not surprised by Ryan Giles’ success.
Edwards, who also managed Middlesbrough and Luton Town – where he had Giles and where the left back had his first crack at the big time – believes the City man is in a better position to succeed than he was at Kenilworth Road.
Giles played only 11 times after the Hatters were promoted in 2023 and he was eventually loaned to the Tigers in January 2024, as Edwards preferred Alfie Doughty. But back in the top flight the 26-year-old seems to be making the most of his chance – as are City.
Asked if he saw their unbeaten start coming, Edwards told Sky Sports: “No, in all honesty, well done to them, they’ve been incredible.
“Obviously it is early days, but the fact is now that they’ve taken points off Manchester United and Chelsea away and the consistency that they’re showing, the stubbornness they’re showing without the ball and in terms of giving up chances, and they are creating chances as well, the way they do it, it’s almost because of the way they got promoted.
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“They’re not having to change as much as maybe some of the other teams, direct, yeah, it was [in the Championship] fast attacks playing to their strengths.
“Oli McBurnie there, we just talked about it with Dominic Calvert-Lewin just bumping and being strong. I know Ryan Giles really well and I’ve worked with him a number of times. It’s great to see him doing so well and playing to his strengths.
“He’s brilliant at delivering crosses and especially on the run as well, he’s involved in a goal and creating a chance [vs Chelsea], the corner, leads to the next goal.
“They were really good at counterattacking it suits Gilo down to the ground, that was why we [Luton] brought him to the Premier League. His athleticism, the stuff that we’re seeing there [at Chelsea], that’s what we were expecting from him.
“Alfie [Doughty] stepped up and obviously we had the two of them to go toe to toe, and almost the best man will play, and Alfie did great that year.
“Gilo would have been frustrated, he didn’t play as much, but he’s matured again. He’s learned again. He’s gone to Hull, done really, really well and now he’s doing it in the Premier League where he’s always wanted to be. But they’re playing to his strengths, he’s really quick, and on the run, that cross he’s got, when he gets it right is really, really dangerous.”
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