Luke Ayling looking at a 'few more years' thanks to Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa

Ayling underwent ankle surgery in the summer with the defender only returning to the side in October but the right back has since made 29 appearances in league and cup for Bielsa's side.

Having joined from Bristol City in August 2016, Ayling has now made 145 appearances for Leeds with the 28-year-old also developing an increasing habit of becoming a goal threat.

The defender has netted in three of his United's last five games with Ayling scoring in Leeds' last two outings before the pause in the season due to the global fight against coronavirus.

Ayling, though, has been continuing to keep on top of his fitness as United's players trained from home and the right-back says Bielsa's methods could ultimately lead to an even longer career for the defender as a professional footballer.

Speaking to Sky Sports in their 'At Home with Leeds United' feature, Ayling said: "Still now we are weighing in every morning and we have all got to take a picture and send it in to the fitness coach every morning and stuff like that," said Ayling.

"It's a complete change of life that I have had.

"I was fit before he came in and I thought I could do a lot but I have just taken it to the next level now.

"I feel I can do a lot more and I think maybe I can play on for a few more years which maybe I couldn't have before I was managed by him. It's a whole life change.

"I feel fitter than ever and I know I can go for the full 90 minutes and I think it shows how much I get in the attacking third now and still fresh late on.

"I'm scoring a few goals and it's down to everything we do in training and how he gets his point across and us boys know what we do in training every day now so there's not as much talking.

"We go out and we get our work down and it's short sharp blasts but then we are out there for a long time but it's short sharp blasts and we are working at a high intensity and I think that shows."

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