Luke Ayling is one of a kind. The Leeds United defender scored a beauty in Leeds; 4-2 win over Wolves and gave a frank and courageous interview to Sky Sports about his own struggles, only making his Premier League journey more impressive.
To celebrate his goal Ayling turned to the beloved Robbie Keane celebration, something Irish fans will be bound to enjoy. The Leeds defender first cracked out the old tumble and guns exactly a year previously on the 18th of March 2022 celebrating his goal in Leeds 3-2 victory over Wolves. With Ayling striking the net again in the same fixture this year it was only fitting that he did it again, an effort the former Leeds striker would be proud of.
@leedsunited 🙌 First time so nice, he had to do it twice! #Ayling #LUFC #PremierLeague #Wolves #Molineux ♬ original sound - V2H🇮🇪
Luke Ayling on life in the Premier League with his stammer
Despite the on-pitch bravado, Luke Ayling showed his true class and character in an interview with Sky Sports at the weekend where he opened up about his struggles with a stammer and the death of his brother and role model at eighteen.
Ayling has joined the courageous Ken Sema who was also applauded earlier in the year for battling through his stammer in his media contributions with Watford. Despite, both footballers being evidently courageous Ayling did point out that there's a difference in their stammers and that sometimes it doesn't look like he knows what he's saying.
The 31-year-old bravely explained how the interview itself would be at the back of his mind and how he's learnt to get over the ridicule he faces despite being a loud character on the pitch and in the dressing room. Adding the importance of young people with similar issues having prominent role models to look up to. Ayling also spoke about having a role model in his brother who passed away at just 18 while Ayling was still a teenager, and how that defined the footballer's battle with his speech.
Breaking barriers on AND off the pitch! 👏
Leeds United's Luke Ayling shares his 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 journey and discusses what it's like to live with a stammer 🤍 pic.twitter.com/M1ZYJ6BHGs— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 17, 2023
All in all it's clear that Luke Ayling is one of the good guys in the Premier League.
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