Leeds United: Luke Ayling opens up on Elland Road exit amid new Archie Gray verdict
Luke Ayling has opened up on his January exit from Leeds United amid high praise for 17-year-old Archie Gray as he admitted to becoming frustrated at Elland Road.
The Middlesbrough defender, currently on loan from Leeds ahead of a permanent exit this summer, confessed he wanted to leave in search of increased playing time elsewhere.
He did, however, explain that he understood his lack of game time given the way Gray has played this season, but given Ayling’s age he felt it best to move on.
Speaking on BBC Tees, Ayling shared: “It was quite clear I was quite frustrated with the lack of game time. I totally understand why that was the case, I was at a club that’s got a young right-back who has been playing quite unbelievably, but I wasn’t getting the minutes that I wanted.
“When you get to my age, you don’t want to sit around and not play football. I love playing football on a Saturday afternoon, and I’m just so glad that a big club like Boro have come in and got me, and I’m happy to help the boys.”
Luke Ayling opens up on Leeds United exit
Ayling’s admission that the choice to leave Elland Road was his decision rather than the club’s makes plenty of sense. It was initially suggested that Daniel Farke could hand him a new contract but the call was made to join Middlesbrough in January.
The right-back was speaking following his side’s 2-0 victory against QPR in which he played a key part, hoping to keep Boro’s promotion hopes alive and potentially lead to competing with Leeds in the playoffs come the end of the season.
Gray, meanwhile, has been one of the most impressive players in the Championship since his breakthrough under Farke, displacing Ayling in the process and becoming an almost undroppable presence at Elland Road.
Having been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Crystal Palace already this season, the youngster’s versatility and consistency has earned him high praise, particularly after a dominant performance despite defeat at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.
In other Leeds United news, Don Goodman has shared a new promotion verdict.
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