Ayling happy to be taking centre stage again after enduring 'tough' year

LUKE LOVING LIFE AT CENTRE-BACK

- By CRAIG JOHNS

IN many ways, you might say the stars aligned for Luke Ayling this summer when Rob Edwards was appointed Middlesbrough boss.

The veteran defender had what he admits was a really tough campaign as injuries impacted his form.

As many questioned, at 34, if he was finished, he admits himself that the doubts started to creep in ahead of Edwards' appointment at Boro.

"It was really tough," Ayling reflected honestly.

"I was dealing with a lot of injuries and I felt like I was getting jabs in my knees, ribs, and ankles. I was never really fit probably after my first injury around October. I was always fighting it but players were getting injured at the wrong time so I felt like I had to play.

"I knew I wasn't playing great football but I wasn't going to quit and not play. Then I finally got back in the team and playing centre-back which I was enjoying, but then I got injured again. Last year was disappointing. It was probably the first time I had to fight those injuries weekly. I was always fighting against something.