Leeds United right-back Luke Ayling has sent a message to Whites' youngster Conor Shaughnessy after he completed a deadline day move to League Two side Mansfield Town.

The 23-year-old is yet to make an appearance for Marcelo Bielsa's side this season and has been allowed to leave for the year in a bid to get him some much-needed first-team experience.

And after he shared a message with his new fans on Instagram, Ayling was quick to wish his defensive team-mate all the best, commenting, "all the best lad", along with a series of yellow and blue hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaughnessy has made 15 appearances for Leeds since moving to the club from Reading but fell out of favour under Bielsa and has played no part in the club's impressive start to the 2019/20 campaign.

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However, a narrow 1-0 loss to Swansea City at Elland Road on Saturday, with Wayne Routledge netting a 90th minute winner, has ended their unbeaten start, leaving them in third place behind the Swans and Charlton Athletic.

When they return from the mid-season break, the Whites travel to newly-promoted Barnsley and will be looking to put things right in the Yorkshire derby.

The verdict

This is a nice touch from Ayling, to a player who will be the first to admit that he has not made the progress that he probably should have.

But he is still only 23 which, for a centre-back, is still very young so he still has every chance of making it in the second-tier, and this move to Mansfield will prove a good test of his desire to do that.

His departure certainly isn't a big loss for Leeds, however, despite their lack of depth at the back.