‘Unbelievable’ – Exclusive: Alan Hutton in awe of Leeds mainstay who started v B’ham | OneFootball

Alan Hutton has been left in awe of the work rate shown by Leeds United right-back Luke Ayling this season.

The former Aston Villa and Scotland full-back, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, says that he has always been a fan of the 28-year-old and that he is a perfect fit for manager Marcelo Bielsa’s demands.

Ayling, who has been a mainstay since returning from injury this season, scored his first goal of the season against Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon, chipping in with a further two assists in a thrilling 5-4 victory.

Hutton says that the running the former Yeovil man gets through is outstanding and that he wants to see if his fellow right-back can be a quality defender in the Premier League.

Hutton told Football Insider: “I’ve actually always liked him as a player, great energy. I think the way that Bielsa plays and the demands – the energy, high pressure – I was watching him and he was up and down all day, his stats are unbelievable.

“He plays well there, he gets the license to go forward but he’s also a very good defender. He’s a very good player, obviously, if they come up he’ll be tested, then we’ll find out exactly what he’s capable of.

“As I’ve seen him at the moment I think he’s got all the qualities to be a really good player – well, he is a really good player.”

Ayling has played 16 times for Leeds this season, starting every single Championship game since the defeat to Millwall in early October.

He has a total of 131 appearances under his belt for Leeds and is two games away from 200 Championship outings.

In other Leeds United news, Noel Whelan has revealed the “problem” he has with a player he compares to a Premier League legend.