Glenn Hoddle lauds Luke Ayling despite Leeds defeat

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Glenn Hoddle has told BT Sport (broadcast on 2/1; 14:17) that he really likes the way Luke Ayling is willing to take risks while at the heart of the Leeds United defence.

Ayling has recently enjoyed a run at centre-back in the Whites side due to the number of injuries Marcelo Bielsa is currently having to contend with.

Unsurprisingly, Leeds have had some mixed results in that time. They have produced a couple of big wins. But they have also been on the receiving end of two heavy defeats.

It was a loss for Leeds on Saturday. They were beaten 3-0 by Tottenham in North London. But as the full-time whistle loomed, Hoddle suggested that he was impressed by what he saw from the 29-year-old.

“Well, he’s confident on the ball. He’s a full-back, isn’t he. He gets plenty of ball in this Leeds side when he’s playing at right-back,” he told BT Sport. “But what I like about him, he’s prepared to go past strikers, if there’s nothing on in front of him, he will drop his shoulder and go past you and take you out the game by running the ball in there rather than having to pass it every time.

“He will give the ball away, at times it won’t work for him. But you can tell his manager won’t get on the players’ backs if they take a risk and it doesn’t come off so next time he wants them to try it again.”

TBR View: Ayling one of Leeds’ revelations in the Premier League

A look at the numbers would suggest that Ayling’s spell at centre-back has not been a success. Leeds have conceded 13 goals in their last six games.

But coming to that conclusion would be incredibly unfair on Ayling. His partnership with Pascal Struijk in the last few games has largely been hugely impressive.

And it did appear that plenty of fans would be happy to see Ayling and Struijk continue playing alongside each other, even when the likes of Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente are back in the fold.

It is remarkable to think therefore, that Ayling cost just £750,000 (via Daily Mail) and is currently playing in a different role to the one where he has spent the large majority of his Leeds career.