Last week’s impressive showings against Manchester United were built on the back of Luke Ayling. If Michael Skubala is to successfully pull the same level from the team, and crucial points, week by week then he needs the team’s senior pros to stand tall.
Ayling led from the front in putting together possibly his best week in Leeds United colours. In each of the matches, wearing the captain’s armband in Liam Cooper’s absence, the 31-year-old led from the front and dragged the rest of the team with him.
Whether it was Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford or Marcus Rashford at Elland Road, Ayling adapted to any and all challenges. He was vocal, he lead from the front, he won his tackles, timed them perfectly, showed attacking ambition to overlap and got stuck into the grittiness matches like these need.
