Luke Ayling may have chance to save Leeds United career as Daniel Farke shares Djed Spence frustration
The clash between Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday 9 December felt like a metaphorical passing of the torch in defence for Daniel Farke’s side.
While the Whites were impressive once again to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in the Championship with a 2-0 win, one of the most exciting moments for the supporters that made the trip to Lancashire would have been the return of Djed Spence.
The Tottenham loanee was a second-half substitute in his first appearance for Farke’s side since the first week of September. But the German boss was left frustrated by some aspects of the 23-year-old’s display and gave him a debrief immediately after the full-time whistle.
Explaining what he said to Spence, Farke said: “Sometimes in transition moments he could run a bit quicker back. There were one or two situations where I feel he could have invested a bit more but this is quite normal as it was his first game in months” [Leeds Live, 9 December].
It is clear that Spence isn’t yet up to speed to compete week in and week out in the Championship and currently, he isn’t getting about the pitch well enough to impact matches at both ends of the field and that could see him restricted to a place on the bench for the next few weeks.
However, one man’s absence can be another player’s gain and while he has missed out on the last three matchday squads, both for tactical reasons and through injury, Luke Ayling may have just received a career lifeline at Elland Road.
The fullback has been a regular feature of Leeds United sides since he joined the ranks at Elland Road all the way back in the summer of 2016 but has found himself out of favour with Farke preferring to pick Archie Gray and now Spence as his right-back options.
But if the German is unhappy with either Spence’s fitness or his attitude when working back out of possession, it may leave the window of opportunity open for Ayling to return to the squad when fit and perhaps even win back his place in the starting XI.
He may not be the most technically astute defender or offer the same attacking threat that Spence can from the right flank, but the 32-year-old work ethic can never be questioned and he would work incredibly hard with or without the ball.
Farke wants a team of players who want to play and want to succeed at Leeds United. Spence’s display on Saturday didn’t seem particularly committed and while it can be excused after so long out, it won’t be accepted if it happens continuously.
While Ayling, the ultimate professional, will just want whatever is best for the Whites in their race for automatic promotion, he will be watching the right-back battle with a keen eye to see if he can reignite his Leeds career.
In other Leeds United news, Michael Gray was blown away by one Premier League quality performer against Blackburn