Why Kalvin Phillips' passing fit to play for Leeds United at Arsenal would be good news for Luke Ayling in particular

If Kalvin Phillips has to sit out Sunday's game at Arsenal, Luke Ayling will be hoping the subsequent reshuffle doesn't send him back to centre-half.
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Ayling feels like he's just found his stride and with a burgeoning relationship on the right flank with productive new boy Raphinha, has designs on a few assists and goals of his own.

Phillips is an injury doubt for the game against the club where Ayling grew up and if he doesn't pass fit, Pascal Struijk might need to move from his central defensive position into midfield.

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Marcelo Bielsa has used Ayling as an emergency centre-half this season and could do so again, with Stuart Dallas reverting to right-back and Jamie Shackleton coming into the midfield.

Shackleton's versatility means he could go to right-back, with Struijk taking Phillips' place and Ayling replacing Struijk. Or Bielsa might move Dallas into the defensive midfield role, with Shackleton partnering Mateusz Klich in the centre of the pitch.

The best case scenario for Leeds is obviously for Phillips to be available so he can do the role that he has been moulded to do by Bielsa, allowing Ayling to continue to plough what is becoming a successful furrow up and down the right flank.

"I feel like I'm growing into it a bit more," he told BBC Leeds.

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"I've had a bit of a stop-start season, playing right-back and then centre-half. Trying to swap from centre-half back into right-back and doing the energy shift of up and down, you want to get that rhythm. But obviously we've had a lot of injuries, I've had to play centre-half quite a lot. Last few games I've really enjoyed being back at right-back and getting forward. I feel like I'm linking up well with [Raphinha]."

HERE'S HOPING - If Kalvin Phillips, right, passes fit to face Arsenal then Luke Ayling can continue to play the right-back role he's been relishing for Leeds United. Pic: GettyHERE'S HOPING - If Kalvin Phillips, right, passes fit to face Arsenal then Luke Ayling can continue to play the right-back role he's been relishing for Leeds United. Pic: Getty
HERE'S HOPING - If Kalvin Phillips, right, passes fit to face Arsenal then Luke Ayling can continue to play the right-back role he's been relishing for Leeds United. Pic: Getty

The Brazilian's almost instantaneous adaptation to Bielsa's system has allowed Ayling to give his winger the ball safe in the knowledge something good is likely to happen. Raphinha has fired in four goals and contributed the same number of assists from the wing and has a dangerous habit of popping up in central areas to create problems for opposition sides.

But Ayling wants to chip in around the opposition box too.

"I can give him the ball and watch him do his stuff," said Ayling.

"I think it's come naturally. I know what he wants to do, I'll give him the ball and support him, I get round him, try make him as comfortable as I can.

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"I enjoy being part of it, getting forward, hopefully I can add a few assists and goals this season and really cap it off."

Ayling, released by Arsenal as a teenager, expects a difficult outing on Sunday.

Leeds are a point and a place above the Gunners, however, and following Monday's comfortable win over Crystal Palace can go into the game with some momentum.

"We know it'll be a really hard game," he said.

"They're sitting below is in the league but they're a very good team with players who have played hundreds of games for club and country. We can go into it with confidence and, like we do with every game, try and win it and see what happens."