The Leeds United defender continues to quietly and effectively go about his business.
Leeds United may have suffered a blip prior to the international break, but Samu Saiz is not the only player who deserves credit for his consistently good performances in the face of adversity.
Right-back Luke Ayling continues to be Leeds’ unsung hero, rarely if ever generating a headline – positive or otherwise – but always doing his job quietly and effectively.
The 26-year-old quickly made the right-back slot his own last season and has not looked back, and while Leeds’ summer signings have generated plenty of buzz, Ayling continues to get on with it, ensuring that Whites boss Thomas Christiansen has had no option but to select him week in, week out.
A minor dip against Sheffield Wednesday can be forgiven because the full-back was still streets ahead of practically all his under-performing teammates on the day, with only Saiz joining him in the plus column.
All clubs need players like Ayling: unsung heroes who carry out each and every task with minimal fuss and maximum effort.
While Leeds continue to struggle to decide on a first-choice left-back, shifting between Vurnon Anita, Gaetano Berardi and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson this season, Ayling’s position on the opposite flank is not in question.
So for once, here is a headline about the Leeds right-back who deserves plenty more in the months ahead.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
