Luke Ayling starred again for Middlesbrough on Saturday as Michael Carrick’s side cruised to a 2-0 win over QPR – and the Leeds United man earned praise from Oli McBurnie and Sam Greenwood.
Ayling, 32, joined Middlesbrough in January on loan from Leeds – pretty much ending his eight-year Leeds spell, given his contract at Elland Road is due to expire in June. He has started 10 games in a row.
He’s started every one of Boro’s Championship matches since his move to Teesside on loan, but Boro have endured a difficult run of form. Two wins, and four losses, in his first eight games for Carrick’s men.
But in the last two games, Ayling and Boro have secured two wins and Ayling has laid on an assist in both. The first, a cross for his side’s third in a 3-1 win over Norwich, keeping their play-off hopes alive.
Then, on Saturday, he got the assist for Boro’s second goal – in the 2-0 win over QPR. He took to social media after the game, underlining his delight at the return to form over the last week with his loan side.
Leeds man Luke Ayling praised after starring for Middlesbrough
It was a superb outing from Ayling, with Teesside Live reporting that he had produced an “excellent” display. A permanent move to Boro is expected, with the Leeds defender available for Boro on a free.
Boro and Ayling now sit eight points off of sixth-place and a big swing is needed for Carrick’s side to get themselves into the top six. But Ayling is impressing – and both Greenwood and McBurnie commented.
