Luke Ayling finds himself in a tricky position at present as his current Leeds United deal approaches its expiration date. Ayling is still contracted until the end of the Premier League season, but his future now looks uncertain at Elland Road and that will surely be on the 31-year-old’s mind as he prepares to return to training on November 28.
Ayling is a fan favourite in West Yorkshire after six and half years of service, but he has found himself struggling for game time this year, with Rasmus Kristensen nailing down the right-back spot under Jesse Marsch this season. As a result, he hasn’t had the opportunities needed to hammer home his worth under the American.
A final decision will be made on Ayling’s future in the coming months, though, and it’s fair to say there’s plenty for the club to consider before making a definitive call. United will undoubtedly look at what he can do on the field first and foremost and, although Marsch has given him just 244 minutes of match action in all competitions, he has had bright moments in games.
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He will have given both Marsch and the club’s decision makers some food for thought with his performance on his return from injury against Brentford in September. He followed that up with another experienced and sturdy showing off the bench to help the 10-men Whites keep a clean sheet against Aston Villa in October.
He couldn’t prevent Fulham scoring three on his only Premier League start this time around, though, and since then he has seen just 16 minutes of league action with Marsch looking his way late in games with the intention of helping his side see out results. Off the field, though, Ayling’s presence is huge.
With 461 league appearances under his belt, Ayling is just about as experienced as they come and he is a valued member of Marsch’s leadership council. The head coach has felt the need to call on his most experienced for help on occasions this season and the right-back undoubtedly carries a lot of respect in the dressing room.
That respect will come from his fellow senior players, of course, but the type of experience and guidance he can provide to the younger members of the squad is precious. The Whites do have a young side, with a large chunk of first-team regulars aged 23 or under and Ayling can have a big impact on them when it comes to advice and help they may need, particularly when the going gets tough.
On the flipside, though, United have prided themselves on the strength of their young talent for some time and with Cody Drameh coming through, they’ll be keen to find chances for the 20-year-old moving forward. Drameh has made just one Premier League appearance so far this season after finding himself rooted behind Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen in the pecking order.
As such, he has spent the majority of the season so far with the U21s, but it’s clear he needs senior minutes to continue his rapid progression and the youngster’s development and potential will be something for the Whites to consider. Ayling’s age will also be something on the hierarchy’s mind while they mull over what’s next for the full-back.
At 31, Ayling is one of the oldest at Elland Road and while he doesn’t turn 32 until August, Leeds will be keeping a keen eye on his fitness and performance levels to see whether those miles on the clock start to show.
Ayling’s own wishes will be a factor, too, but if he’s keen to stay at Elland Road beyond the end of the season, he’ll be determined to underline exactly what he has to offer over the next few months and that starts by making his mark in training while Rasmus Kristensen is away on international duty. Kristensen will be back at Thorp Arch in time to face Manchester City on December 28 and Ayling will be pushing to at least give the head coach something to think about.
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