Luke Ayling stance emerges after being axed from Leeds United squad for win v Swansea – Phil Hay
Daniel Farke appears to have been straight when telling Luke Ayling why he wasn’t in the Leeds United squad that beat Swansea this week, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Writing on The Athletic website on Friday (1 December), the ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist reported that in the past, Simon Grayson couldn’t give David Prutton a reason as to why he was being frozen out at Elland Road.
However, after 32-year-old Ayling was left out against Swansea with Djed Spence returning from injury, Hay said that the right-back “will appreciate the honesty” from Farke, despite the Leeds manager admitting he’ll want to kill him for his decision.
Passing of the torch
Dropped down the pecking order by Simon Grayson during the late 2000s, Prutton was frustrated by the way he was treated and how his future was unknown near the end of his career with the Whites.
Used as half-time entertainment, Prutton was reduced to “a court jester” instead of playing football.
The situation is different with Ayling, however. Farke appears to have been honest from the start with the player, joking in the post-match press conference following a 3-1 victory over Swansea that the defender “probably wanted to kill me” when learning of his exclusion from the matchday squad.
“In terms of football character, of team-mate character, Luke is second to none and probably the best player I’ve ever worked with,” Farke added.
After 250+ appearances for his boyhood club, there is no easy way to begin the passing of the torch. But with respect and dignity, Ayling will understand that there are now younger, fitter, more adaptable players ahead of him in the squad.
With years of experience comes a wise, level head in the dressing room, one that the Leeds squad will need this season if they are to continue challenging for promotion back to the Premier League. Ayling can be of great service, even if Farke is not able to fit him into the squad on many occasions.
Wednesday night against Swansea was just the beginning. Despite captaining the side for a number of Leeds’ opening matches, the likes of Archie Gray, Junior Firpo, Sam Byram and Spence are more than capable of filling the Ayling-sized hole in the squad.
They can absolutely never replace the personality of the Leeds cult legend, a departure that will cause emotions to run high when the time comes. But until then, Ayling is still one of the most valued people at the club, whether he gets onto the pitch or not.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites player is surely set for a January exit after the latest Farke snub.