Leeds United manager, Marcelo Bielsa is sweating over the fitness of a number of his players who fill in at right back and he needs to find an immediate solution to this problem.
27 year old Ayling has missed just one Championship game this season through suspension which prevented him from facing Blackburn Rovers after the recent international break.
However, he was chalked off after just 25 minutes against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening and Bielsa is now low on defensive options as Gaetano Berardi and Barry Douglas remain injured.
Stuart Dallas was the player drafted to fill in at right back against Forest but the Northern Ireland international is left footed and recognized more as a winger. Lewis Coyle remains on loan at Fleetwood Town.
We look at the academy and there is Jamie Shackleton who has been used at right back but is considered more as a midfielder and his inexperience should convince Bielsa to bring in a free agent on a short term deal.
If the Argentine manager does indeed decide to bring in a free agent, 2004-2005 Premier League winner, Glen Johnson is the obvious candidate after the England international’s contract at Stoke City expired in the summer.
The Leeds United squad are lacking in depth in defense and bringing in Glen Johnson into the team will definitely provide The Whites with the cover on the right side of the defense to ease Bielsa’s woes, while his experience will give Leeds a boost in their quest for promotion.
Glen Johnson is an English professional footballer who last played as a right back for Stoke City in the English Premier League.