Phil Hay shares what Georginio Rutter did for Luke Ayling in Leeds United win vs Cardiff City
Journalist Phil Hay has shared what Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter did in the win over Cardiff City as a way of saying farewell to Luke Ayling.
Rutter scored the third of Leeds’ goals in the emphatic 3-0 win in South Wales on Saturday (13 January) as they made it three victories in a row by the same scoreline.
The France Under-21s international mimicked playing the guitar in tribute to Ayling, whose time at Elland Road concluded this week when joining Middlesbrough.
Hay posted on his personal Twitter account [13 January]: “Rutter’s air guitar when he scored was a little nod to how much the dressing room thought of Ayling. Been a big and valued presence for so long.”
Key figure
Ayling was not just a great servant for Leeds on the pitch across his seven-and-a-half years at Elland Road, but also off it.
Even when not involved this season, he was no doubt still a key figure on the training ground and his presence will be missed.
The Leeds fans chanted Ayling’s name and the players responded with their own tribute of sorts.
It dates back to when the defender pulled out his hairband and played an air guitar a few years back when celebrating a goal.
That pre-dates Rutter’s time at the club, of course, but it is clear that he also grew close to Ayling during his relatively short time here.
With Leeds winning 3-0 in the Welsh capital and Ayling playing 90 minutes for Middlesbrough in their win at Millwall, it was a good day all around.
In other Leeds United news, Don Goodman has been blown away by a “top, top player” the Whites could sign.