Stephen Warnock reacts to Luke Ayling’s performance in Leeds win

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Stephen Warnock has told Sky Sports News (broadcast on 26/10; 11:10) that Luke Ayling was magnificent in Leeds United’s win over Aston Villa on Friday, and insisted that his display was as good as Patrick Bamford’s performance.

Bamford understandably took most the headlines following the 3-0 victory. The striker bagged a stunning second-half hat-trick to end Villa’s flawless start to the campaign.

But a number of players within Marcelo Bielsa’s side also produced outstanding performances. And Warnock felt that Ayling was just as deserving of the man of the match accolade.

Ayling was wearing the armband and moved into centre-back in Liam Cooper’s absence. But he showed no signs of being anything other than a natural in that role.

He made a clearance off the line. And he also made a number of superb challenges, and brilliant passes that allowed Leeds to ask questions in the final third.

And Warnock admitted that he could not believe how far Ayling has improved since he started working with Bielsa at Elland Road.

“He’s becoming Mr Versatile for Leeds United. I remember playing against Luke Ayling when he was at Bristol City. He was physically very strong and athletically brilliant. On the ball, okay,” he told Sky Sports News (26/10; 11:10).

“He has massively improved. He has got better and better under Bielsa. We talk about Bamford’s performance the other night, I think Ayling was equally as good.

“It was a magnificent performance from Luke Ayling. For me, he is arguably the most improved player that I’ve seen in the last couple of seasons that I’ve come up against in my career.”

Like a number of his teammates, Ayling has taken little time to look at home at the highest level. He has been excellent for much of Bielsa’s tenure, and taken his game to another level following promotion.

It is remarkable to think that Leeds paid just £750,000 to sign him in 2016 (via Daily Mail). Whatever happens from now on, there is no question that the 29-year-old has been an incredible servant for the Whites – particularly since Bielsa’s arrival.