Cody Drameh must replace Luke Ayling as Leeds United veteran branded ‘poor’ live on Sky Sports vs West Brom
Daniel Farke needs to turn to Cody Drameh in place of Luke Ayling as the Leeds United veteran continued to struggle in the first half against West Brom.
Nobody can dispute the full-back’s commitment to the Whites cause, which is more than can be said for some currently, but the 31-year-old again showed signs that the youngster needs to be given a chance, especially since the club will lose him if he doesn’t see some action soon.
Dramah, 21, is on the bench tonight for the clash with the Baggies at Elland Road (18 August) but has only seen a single minute of action so far this season, in the Carabao Cup, after injury.
The youngster continues to be linked to an exit after excelling on loan with Luton Town last season, and Cardiff City the year before, yet remains behind Ayling in the pecking order.
But the space down the left for West Brom’s Matt Phillips to run into behind the veteran looks like the Whites are asking for trouble, and a change should surely be made sooner rather than later.
Midway through the half Ayling passed a clearance directly to a Baggies player inside his own area to hand the Albion a chance amid a scrappy first 45 minutes, when injuries and exits are already putting the side under enough pressure.
Speaking live on the Sky Sports match broadcast (18 August, 20.23pm) pundit Andy Hinchcliffe said: “It’s a poor clearance, a tentative clearance from Ayling, just jabbed that ball away, not to safety. He gifted it back to West Brom.”
Farke is faced with losing Drameh if he doesn’t give him the opportunity he has surely earned soon, and with Ayling continuing to struggle defensively the time is now.
Southampton have become the latest side linked to a move for the youngster before the window shuts [Fabrizio Romano, 18 August], but the Whites need him now to replicate the quality he has shown in the Championship during the past two campaigns.
In other Leeds United news, a £30million transfer update has arrived as a club chief has finally broken his silence over the current mess in the window.