Neil Redfearn has praised Luke Ayling on Twitter for always stepping up as the Leeds United stand-in skipper continues to impress during this current run in the side.
Ayling has undoubtedly been one of our best players in recent weeks. He had to be patient earlier in the campaign following the summer arrival of Rasmus Kristensen.
Kristensen’s failure to impress however, presented the 31-year-old with a fresh chance. And he has taken that opportunity with both hands. Ayling has been superb for several weeks now.
Redfearn praises Ayling despite Leeds loss
His form prompted Leeds to take up the option to extend his contract by a year. And he has shown time and time again since that that was a smart decision.
Ayling has skippered the side in recent times with Liam Cooper struggling with injury. And he, once again, fronted up to the media after Saturday’s loss to Chelsea.
That prompted a Leeds fan on Twitter to praise Ayling for his recent form and the leadership he has shown. And those views were echoed by Redfearn…
Ayling’s importance to the side is probably a disappointing statement regarding the current state of the squad. At this stage of his career, he should probably be the backup.
And yet, Ayling is, by far, the better right-back. He deserves huge credit for that. But there is an argument that he should have not got the opportunity to be so important at this point.
Kristensen has been a really poor signing so far. So we have to be grateful to Ayling for, once again, stepping up.
And in fairness, the defence have been fairly good over the last few weeks. Robin Koch and Max Wober are not conceding that many goals. And Junior Firpo is playing the best football of his Leeds career right now.
Under Marcelo Bielsa, it appeared that our defensive frailty would cost us. Now that issue seems to have largely been addressed.
The problem is that the goals at the other end have almost completely dried up.
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