Former Whites captain hails Leeds United ace as most improved player he has faced during career

Left back Warnock faced Ayling during his time at Bristol City before Ayling made the switch to Leeds from the Robins for just £250,000 in August 2016.

Four years on, Ayling is United's vice-captain in the Premier League with the right-back wearing the skipper's arm band in Friday night's 3-0 win at Aston Villa in the absence of the injured Liam Cooper and shifting form his normal right back role to partner Robin Koch at centre-half.

The 29-year-old sprayed passes towards United's front men all evening and also made a crucial recovery to block a fierce shot from Jack Grealish on the line that would otherwise have given Villa a 1-0 lead.

The two sides instead entered the interval goalless and Leeds then ran riot in the second half with Patrick Bamford bagging a 19-minute hat-trick in a 3-0 victory.

"He's become a Mr Versatile for Leeds United," said Warnock, speaking on Sky Sports' The Football Show.

"I remember playing against Luke Ayling when he was at Bristol City and he was physically very strong, athletically brilliant, on the ball, okay.

"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 playing in a left centre-back position and starting attacks.

"The recovery that he made was also brilliant because he sensed danger and he ended up getting a clearance off the line and that could have changed the game.

"It was a magnificent performance from Luke Ayling and for me he is arguably the most improved player I've seen in the last couple of seasons that I have come up against in my career as well."

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Thank you Laura Collins