Ayling’s stats suggest Leeds need Berardi back as soon as possible

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Leeds United have been missing the Swiss defender since he went off injured during the opening weekend of the season.

Leeds United continued their poor start to the new season with a 1-0 defeat against Championship leaders Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The Whites were expected to challenge for promotion after a busy summer transfer window and with former Swansea City boss Garry Monk now at the helm, but instead they are in the bottom three with six games played.

There is still plenty of time to turn things round, yet Monk must look at his team selections and ensure he gets it right more often than not in the months ahead.

One notable absence has been Gaetano Berardi, with summer signing Luke Ayling covering for the Swiss full-back while he recovers from injury, but on recent evidence the former cannot return soon enough.

Ayling is not the dud some Leeds fans are painting him out to be and there are positives to take from his performances to date. However, against Huddersfield for all his tenacity and work rate there were too many disappointing statistics.

The recent Leeds recruit had a passing accuracy of just 58 per cent on Saturday, the second worst with only goalkeeper Rob Green managing less.

As a result of the constant long balls being played from the full-back positions, Ayling also lost possession an alarming 24 times with only fellow defender Charlie Taylor coming in worse in that regard.

That is something to lay at Monk’s door, but if it is the way he wants his side to operate his players have to improve.

Ayling also failed to win any aerial battles all afternoon, while he made just one interception and won a single tackle. He also lost more duels than he won – eight to six – and he will need to up his game considerably or risk losing his place to Berardi as soon as the Leeds fan favourite is back to full match fitness.