Luke Ayling has expressed confidence in Leeds United’s ability to secure promotion to the Premier League ahead of their upcoming match against Middlesbrough on Monday.
Despite being on loan from Leeds, the experienced right-back will not be able to participate in the game at the Riverside. Leeds aims to reclaim the second spot in the Championship table by defeating Boro. While Michael Carrick’s team may not have much at stake, they are committed to their role in the automatic promotion race, having recently earned two points each from Southampton and Ipswich Town.
Before the match, Ayling returned to Leeds for the club’s end-of-season awards ceremony, where he, along with long-time players Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas, received a Special Achievement Award. Naturally, he was asked about his parent club’s chances of promotion upon receiving the accolade.
The Boro loanee remarked, “It’s time for these guys to showcase their talents; they’re an exceptional team. I’m confident they’ll earn promotion.” Ethan Ampadu was honored as Player of the Year, and jokingly mentioned he hoped Ayling, affectionately known as Bill, would help them out in Monday’s game.
Accepting his award, Ampadu expressed, “It’s incredibly exciting. I’ve been in situations where we were fighting relegation, so this pressure is thrilling—a pressure we’re all striving to meet. We’re determined to give our fans what they truly deserve, starting with Monday’s match against Boro, so hopefully, Bill can put in a good word for us!”
Ayling has actually been the subject of transfer speculation this weekend, after an impressive spell so far at Boro. Available on a free this summer when his Leeds contract comes to an end, Carrick recently spoke of Ayling’s importance to Boro but could offer no guarantees that Boro would sign the 32-year-old this summer despite almost inevitable initial
And a potential complication in likely hopes to see Ayling stay at the Riverside next season popped up on Sunday with a report from Sun journalist Alan Nixon which claimed that former Boro boss Chris Wilder wants to sign him for Sheffield United this summer.
The Blades seem des
tined for relegation from the Premier League after a 4-1 loss to Burnley, with Wilder criticizing their defense once again. While Wilder’s future at Sheffield United remains uncertain, Nixon suggests that Ayling could be a target for them if Wilder stays, thanks to their financial advantage with parachute payments. Meanwhile, Prutton predicts a Leeds victory against Boro on Monday, acknowledging Leeds’ need for a win and the challenge Boro could pose under Michael Carrick’s management. Prediction: Boro 1-2 Leeds.
