"The drop-off has been massive" - Concern raised on Luke Ayling at Middlesbrough | OneFootball

Ayling has been picked out as the Boro player who has underdelivered the most this term

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Veteran right-back Luke Ayling has been picked out as Middlesbrough's most disapppointing player this term, following his drop-off in performances compared to his impressive loan spell at the end of last season.

Boro have struggled for consistency in the Championship throughout this campaign, but they are still in with a chance of finishing inside the play-offs, with just one place and three points between them and sixth-placed Coventry City.

Ayling has been a regular in Michael Carrick's backline so far, but it is fair to say that, this time around, he has not quite matched the levels of his decent showings while on loan at the Riverside Stadium from Leeds United last season.

Boro fan pundit offers 'underdelivered' Luke Ayling performances verdict

Ayling became a Leeds legend for his spell at the club from 2016 to 2024, which saw him make over 260 appearances for the club and help them win promotion to the Premier League in 2020.

He struggled to make an impact on their return to the Championship last term, and so made the move to Boro on loan in the January window and became an instant starter on Teesside, with standout showings that saw him notch eight assists in 19 league appearances.

That loan move was made into a permanent deal last summer, as he signed a two-year deal with the club, but he has not quite been able to keep on having that impact as time has passed and injuries have taken their toll.

The 33-year-old has captained Boro on occasion this season, and has made 28 appearances in all competitions, but has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the start of March, with his campaign looking all-but-over as it stands.

Numerous players within Michael Carrick's squad have struggled to hit their previous heights so far this term, but FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit, Jasper Hudson, has picked out Ayling as the most high-profile player that has disappointed, after we asked him for a player who has underdelivered at the Riverside Stadium in 2024/25.

“I think Luke Ayling has probably underdelivered. He’s been really quite poor this year, when there was so much expectation after how brilliant he was at the back end of last season," Jasper told FLW.

“He’s not lived up to that at all. He looks like half the player he was, and obviously has missed out a lot with injuries.

“There are a few players that also fit into the category of being injured and not performing to the best of their abilities.

“Rav van den Berg hasn’t progressed as much. I wouldn’t say he’s played badly this season, but he hasn’t been as exceptional as he was, at times, last season.

“Earlier in the season there were a few games where I thought he was world-class for the Championship, one of the best centre-backs in the league, but he has not really shown that of late.

“But, Ayling is still the main one. After what we were promised last year with his performances, the drop-off has been massive.”

Ayling has been backed by Michael Carrick to perform well despite his struggles

It is always tough for players to keep performing at such high levels every week when they are nearing the latter stages of their respective careers, and with Ayling now being 33-years-old, it should come as little surprise to see him drop off somewhat this season, especially considering that he has played regular football in the EFL for the last 16 years.

He has missed chunks of the campaign through picking up various injuries, but has still been trusted by Boro boss Carrick to be their first-choice right-back, and he sang his praises back in February after he bounced back from some poor showings with a good performance in an away win at Stoke City.

"I’ll give Luke a mention because, for him to come in after not playing the last game or so...he’s been captain a lot this season and he’s a really important personality in the group," he told the Yorkshire Post.

"The way he’s dealt with this period and this week has been pretty outstanding, to be honest.

"He’s stepped up, been the leader in the group and so seeing him come on as left centre half - I don’t think he’s played there before and yet he didn’t bat an eyelid - makes me feel really proud.

"That’s what it takes, really. It makes me proud knowing we’ve got players like that."

It is clear that Carrick still thinks highly of Ayling, so while he has dropped off somewhat this term, it would surely be a shock to see him depart the Riverside Stadium this summer for pastures new.

The 33-year-old will currently be focusing on bouncing back from his ankle injury, and he faces a race against time to be back fit in time to take part in the play-offs, that is, if Boro can get there in the next two games.