Luke Ayling returned from injury as Leeds United’s youngsters battered Watford 6-0 at Elland Road.
Carlos Corberan has paid tribute to Luke Ayling’s impact on and off the pitch at Leeds United after the defender made a goal-scoring return to action during Monday’s 6-0 thrashing of Watford’s U23s at Elland Road, speaking to LUTV.
Ayling is yet to feature under Marcelo Bielsa in the opening weeks of the new season after undergoing ankle surgery over the summer. But the former Bristol City right-back looked back to his old barnstorming self as Watford were swept away 6-0 in a reserve team clash in West Yorkshire.
He set up the excellent Robbie Gotts with a trademark cut back before putting the icing on a thumping win with a tap in after Mateusz Bogusz’s wicked strike had been pushed into his path by an overworked Watford goalkeeper.
“Very positive,” Corberan said when asked to sum up Ayling’s performance. “These type of games can help because after a long period of injury a player needs to recover his physical, tactical and technical levels.
“They need this step. And it’s very positive to see Luke Ayling, how he faces every game and how he trains with the young guys. He’s teaching them.”
Ayling still faces a challenge forcing his way back into Bielsa’s starting XI with Stuart Dallas impressing in a new-look right-back role since the start of the campaign.
But a long-serving player who has been one of the first names on the team sheet under not only Bielsa but Garry Monk, Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom too will be chomping at the bit, desperate to raid down the Elland Road flanks again as soon as possible.
You simply can’t keep a good man down.
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