Luke Ayling may be finished at Elland Road – Three things learned in Leeds United v Swansea City
After a difficult return to Championship action following the international break, Leeds United got their campaign back up and running with a 3-1 win over Swansea City.
Goals from Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Dan James ensured that the Whites made it six successive wins at Elland Road on Wednesday night (29 November) and returned to their usual position of third place in the Championship.
It was by no means the perfect night for Daniel Farke’s men with work still to be done ahead of the clash with Middlesbrough next time out, but the Whites will be welcoming Michael Carrick’s side to Elland Road in a confident mood after Wednesday’s win.
Here’s what MOT Leeds News learned from the win.
Struijk should be dropped
What on earth was Pascal Struijk doing in that opening minute? The Dutchman seemed to have a complete brain fade as he aimlessly headed a long ball perfectly into the path of Jamie Paterson to lob Ilan Meslier and give Swansea a lead.
It is the first error leading to a goal that the 24-year-old has made this season, but it showed shades of the worst of his displays during the Whites’ time in the Premier League. It was the only real defensive involvement he was required to make during the entirety of the clash and he couldn’t get it right.
Liam Cooper impressed during Struijk’s absence around the international break and the Scotsman deserves to reclaim his place after the Dutchman’s disaster on Wednesday night at Elland Road.
Farke should drop the defender against Middlesbrough next time out.
Interest in Summerville will be high
Few players have been as exciting to watch in a Leeds United shirt this season as Crysencio Summerville and although the winger didn’t score against Swansea, he was arguably the Whites’ best performer on Wednesday night.
In the 80 minutes the 22-year-old played he created four chances for his teammates, including the assist for Prioe’s first-half strike. On top of that, Summerville had four shots himself as he caused absolute chaos down the left flank by completing four dribbles for Farke’s side [Fotmob].
Teams in the Premier League and beyond will be queuing up to take the Dutchman off of Leeds’ hands when the January transfer window opens. The Whites may fancy their chances of keeping hold of him for the remainder of the season but it could be a tough ask.
Luke Ayling finished?
When the team was named at Elland Road at 6:45, it was a slight surprise to see Djed Spence named among the substitute bench, but an even bigger shock to see Luke Ayling not even named in the Whites’ matchday squad.
Farke had said before the game that he had no fresh injury concerns to contend with so it seems unlikely the full-back was left out because of a knock, rather it appears as though he has just fallen down the pecking order at Elland Road.
With Gray preferred at right-back in recent weeks and Spence now back fighting fit, you have to wonder if we’ve seen the last of Ayling in a Leeds United shirt. It has become abundantly clear that he is not Farke’s preferred option on the right of defence.
In other Leeds United news, one journalist has urged Farke to let Charlie Cresswell leave Elland Road when the window opens in January