Luke Ayling has been handed a 12-month contract extension at Middlesbrough, with Kim Hellberg describing him as a ‘monumental’ figure at the club.
Ayling’s Impact on and off the Pitch
Despite Ayling turning 35 in the early weeks of next season, his performances have been enough to convince Hellberg and club officials that he deserves a new deal. Ayling is seen as a valuable player to keep around next term. This is because the squad has few experienced heads and is likely to undergo a lot of change in the summer, regardless of whether Boro win promotion or not.
Hellberg initially mistook a question on the new deal for being asked how much the defender earned, before realising the question was about earning the new deal. Hellberg said: “He’s done brilliantly.
Hellberg Praises Ayling’s Performances
“He has had a very good season and you can see in the terms of how he plays football. I think he is just getting better and better every game. Even when he’s had a blip in one or two games, the way he bounces back from that – he just steps up and is even better again.
“He has monumental importance on the training ground, and energy, but also in the way we play. He also has a right foot that is providing a lot of assists, even as a center back.
“I think he’s up to five or six this season. So he’s also a very important player and person for the group and for the club. So I’m very happy with that.”
While an ideal scenario will see Boro strengthen and Ayling become more of a peripheral figure next season as far as minutes are concerned, Ayling is seen as a valuable player to keep around next term.