Leeds mainstay Luke Ayling has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Leeds United defender Luke Ayling has been confirmed as missing the rest of the 2017-18 campaign after undergoing ankle surgery – and could the mainstay’s injury see the Whites maker a u-turn regarding Cameron Borthwick-Jackson?
Ayling, 26, suffered the ankle injury during the 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest and was replaced after just 26 minutes by Holland international Vurnon Anita.
The former Bristol City and Arsenal defender has been Thomas Christiansen’s first-choice right-back all season, playing in all 26 of Leeds’ Championship outings.
Now, versatile defender Gaetano Berardi is likely to be the main candidate to replace Ayling on the right side of defence with the Switzerland international’s natural position being at right-back.
It leaves a gap on the left, despite the impending signing of Laurens De Bock, with Tyler Denton yet to prove himself at Championship level and former Newcastle United utility player Vurnon Anita failing to show his true quality at Leeds.
The Daily Express claimed Leeds have held talks with Manchester United over the cancellation of Borthwick-Jackson’s season-long loan deal, but could they now make a u-turn and look to keep the 20-year-old at Elland Road?
The Old Trafford academy product made his first appearance for Leeds since October on Saturday in the dismal 2-1 loss to League Two side Newport County, but was replaced after an hour.
He has made just one Championship appearance all season, starting Leeds’ opening game of the season in a 3-2 win over Bolton and has hardly won fans over with a string of disappointing first-team performances.
But with Anita and Denton yet to show their worth, Leeds should keep the loanee at Elland Road in order to provide competition for De Bock with the Belgian untried in the fast-paced, physical Championship.
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