‘One thing missing’: 31-year-old shares dream Leeds scenario ahead of new Championship season

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Luke Ayling is looking to fulfil his dream of celebrating promotion to the Premier League in front of Leeds United supporters this season.

Ayling was speaking in an interview with Leeds Live at the club’s media day on Tuesday, where he explained how the promotion celebrations of 2020 are providing him an extra incentive to repeat the feat so that fans can be there.

The 31-year-old is one of several players still at Leeds who were part of the side that won the Championship three years ago.

Leeds won the division at a canter that year, but due to the Covid restrictions that saw the season paused for three months, had to play the final nine matches without a crowd.

That did not stop some supporters from heading to Elland Road on the night promotion was secured, but it is not the same as being there for events such as the trophy lift, and final day celebrations.

Ayling sets out dream scenario for Leeds this season

With that in mind, Ayling is looking to use that as added motivation to secure a return to the Premier League with Leeds, to address ‘that one thing missing’.

He said: “When I signed here eight years ago, I dreamed of getting this club back to the Premier League and we did it. It was still unbelievable, it was still a great achievement and we still had a great time, but there was always that one thing missing.

“That was the fans inside Elland Road. Then afterwards a bus tour and all this kind of stuff. We’ve got to look forward and, hopefully, we can do it, but we know it’s not going to be as easy as just turning up and just getting promoted because it’s such a hard league to get out of.

“You’ve seen teams that have come down and stayed down for a long time. We know it’s going to be a hard season.”

That sort of incentive could be massive for Leeds this season and even if Ayling is to play second fiddle to Cody Drameh, he will be huge in the dressing room.

Ayling has just one year left remaining on his deal at Elland Road and it would feel like the perfect ending for him if he could get Leeds promoted for a second time, but on this occasion with supporters alongside him.