Leeds have been revitalised in recent weeks with a number of players returning to form, perhaps none more so than Luke Ayling, who has been praised highly by his former manager Terry Skiverton.
What did he say?
Skiverton was manager of Yeovil in 2010 and the man responsible for giving Ayling his first taste of senior football after signing him on loan from Arsenal, and the defender excelled in Somerset.
He helped the Glovers to an unlikely promotion in 2012/13 and is naturally well thought of by those at Huish Park, despite leaving when Yeovil were relegated from the Championship.
Since then the 28-year-old has gone from strength to strength, to no surprise of Skiverton. He has praised Ayling’s range of attributes from his technicality to mentality, with the latter particularly crucial to winning promotion, a feat Ayling has achieved twice in his career.
Skiverton spent time at Chelsea during the 1990s and made a comparison between his former player and some former teammates. Speaking to The Athletic, he said:
“(He would have had the peronality to) mix in the same environment as a Dennis Wise or a Kerry Dixon.
“Luke was a glass-half-full type. He’d get taunted by crowds for his long hair but he loved it. He was happy to fight his corner with controlled aggression. He’s intelligent and talented — talented technically — but the biggest reason why he’s got to the level he’s at is because of his bravery and his attitude.
“There’s a big difference between having character and being a character. Luke’s a genuine character.”
Winning mindset
Ayling has had to prove himself to reach the position he is in currently, having been let go by Arsenal and made surplus to requirements by Bristol City in the year before he made the move to Elland Road.
A former teammate Adam Virgo has also commented on how the player’s attitude has taken him to a level he never thought he’d reach, but it is also a testament to Marcelo Bielsa that he is playing so well.
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On top of his four goals and three assists, Ayling has made his mark defensively with two tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game according to WhoScored, while also proving vitally important with his ability to play at centre-back or full-back.
Should Leeds get promoted he is also the right character to deal with the step up in quality and give his all week-in week-out, and the fact that Marcelo Bielsa trusts him more than any other player – with the exception of Liam Cooper – highlights his importance in the squad.
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Leeds should look to recruit more players of his ilk if they want to sustain their success, as it is clear that Ayling has made a valuable contribution since arriving in Yorkshire.
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