It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Luke Ayling take more of a backseat role this weekend when Leeds United travel to face Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. Jesse Marsch is expected to name a strong side to take on the League One outfit, but he’ll be keen to rotate in a couple of positions and hand some of his star performers a rest at the Wham Stadium.
Ayling may well be involved off the bench, but the head coach could go with Rasmus Kristensen or Cody Drameh on Saturday. The full-back should and probably will start the club’s next Premier League contest against Nottingham Forest, though, and that shows just how far the 31-year-old has come to wrestle back his place at the top of the Elland Road pecking order.
The defender was always going to have a battle on his hands this season if he was to keep the spot he has held for six seasons prior to this summer. The arrival of Rasmus Kristensen was seen as natural squad progression as the club backed Marsch by bringing the Denmark international, who he had at Red Bull Salzburg, to West Yorkshire.
