Only Stoke City’s Mario Vrancic sits above Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Ryan Giles when it comes to creating chances in the Championship this season.
The 21-year-old made an electric start to life at Cardiff City with four assists from his opening four games.
The following four games for Mick McCarthy’s side have only brought one assist.
Although the number of chances Giles is creating has dropped after a lightening quick start to the season, the midfielder is still the Bluebirds’ main source of creativity.
Cardiff on a bad run
After two wins and two draws from their opening four matches, Cardiff have lost six of their last seven Championship games.
Following three consecutive games out of the matchday squad in September, Giles was recalled for the 5-1 mauling against Blackburn Rovers, where he came on at half-time with his side already 3-0 down.
He provided the assist for Sean Morrison in that game, but that’s Cardiff’s only goal in their last five outings following the win against Nottingham Forest which proved to be Chris Hughton’s last in charge at The City Ground.
Ryan Giles continues to shine
Only Huddersfield Town’s Sorba Thomas (6) has more assists than Giles (5) in the Championship so far this season (WhoScored).
Stoke midfielder Vrancic (3.2) is the only man in the Championship to average more key passes per game than Giles (3.1) heading into the international break.
Unlike Giles, Vrancic is currently playing in a side that has promotion aspirations.
Stoke currently sit fourth in the Championship, four points off the leaders Bournemouth, whereas Cardiff sit 20th, three points above the relegation zone.
Giles’ best creative performance came in the opening weekend 1-1 draw against Barnsley where the Wolves youngster created five chances.
He hasn’t failed to create at least once chance in any game so far this season, but his least creative day at the office came in the 2-1 home defeat to Bristol City where he created one chance.
Cardiff’s first game after the international break is the crunch derby clash against Swansea City, and the Cardiff fans will be hoping that Giles can maintain his positive start to the season and play a starring role in winning the derby day bragging rights in Wales.