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Dom Matteo pours praise on Luke Ayling after Leeds Award Night snub
Dom Matteo has heaped praise on Leeds United defender Luke Ayling after he was snubbed at the latest Elland Road Awards Night.
Stuart Dallas was the big winner on the night, taking home three of the biggest awards, bizarrely including Goal of the Season.
The Sky Sports pundit believes that Ayling was a close competitor for the main Player of the Year award behind Dallas.
Writing in his Yorkshire Evening Post column, Matteo admitted that he was disappointed for the marauding Elland Road right-back.
“For me, it was between Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas for the main award, either one of them could have won it,” he wrote.
“Maybe Dallas just edged it. They can both play in different positions and they have both had such good seasons.
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“Ayling could easily have won it, I was a bit disappointed he didn’t get at least one because he had such a good year. But you can’t really argue with Dallas given what he did throughout the season.”
Bargain.
It is hard to think of a bigger bargain deal than Ayling.
After being forced out of the door at Bristol City by Lee Johnson, the right-back followed Kyle Bartley to Elland Road, and the rest is history.
The Whites spent £250,000 on the defender, let that sink in.
Who would have thought that he would now be one of the best right-backs in the Premier League, with Gareth Southgate even name-dropping him this season.
According to WyScout, only two players in Europe’s top-five leagues have completed more defensive duels than Ayling in the past year, and both of those are central midfielders.
Despite being snubbed at the awards, Ayling should still be immensely proud of his efforts over the past year, he has been out of this world; long may that continue.
In other Leeds United news, Patrick Bamford sends a Twitter message after missing out on England squad on Tuesday afternoon