Luke Ayling has been a stalwart in Leeds United’s side since he arrived, but will miss the Whites’ next Championship clash.
It seems almost unthinkable but Luke Ayling arguably goes into Leeds’ game with Blackburn Rovers after the international break with his place under serious threat.
Ayling is suspended for the game after picking up a red card against Brentford at the weekend. Losing the right-back is a blow for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but perhaps it is not as great a blow as it would have previously been.
Ayling has been an inspired signing for Leeds considering that Bristol City were seemingly more than happy to let him head to Elland Road in 2016. He was sensational during his first season with the club and saw much of his second campaign written off due to injury.
His form in pre-season suggested that he was very much back to his best, but his recent form was arguably heading in a direction that hinted that Bielsa could have to act further down the line if it continued.
He was surely never going to be dropped for Blackburn if he was available, but perhaps his suspension could end up doing Ayling and Leeds a massive favour.
Jamie Shackleton could be a candidate to replace Ayling, but surely the most likely replacement will be Gaetano Berardi if he is fit. He has been used as a centre-back under Bielsa, but is obviously no stranger to the right-back role. And Bielsa’s clear faith in the Swiss suggests that he would love to get him back into the side once he is fully fit.
With Pontus Jansson back to his best and Liam Cooper the captain, Berardi’s best chance of going straight back into the side surely comes at right-back.
And if Berardi shows the kind of form in his previously-favoured position that he displayed at the heart of the defence, then it is difficult to imagine that Ayling’s exile from the side will last just one game – and that could be exactly what the popular full-back needs after a slightly underwhelming run.
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