GIVEN his experience, his Leeds United importance for a number of years and his hugely impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough in the second half of last season, Luke Ayling unsurprisingly wasn't short of options when his Elland Road exit was confirmed this summer.

But Ayling needed no time at all to settle on his next move. Boro's rivals would be snubbed, for the right-back had decided he'd love a Riverside return long before the end of last season.

Other than the visit of Leeds for which he was ineligible, Ayling played every game in the second half of last season after joining on loan in January. And the delight on Teesside that greeted Michael Carrick's revelation after the final game that a permanent deal was close told of just how quickly and impressively Ayling had established himself in Boro's XI.

Sheffield United were one of a number of clubs to have shown an interest in Ayling but they quickly learnt they were knocking at a locked door.

“I spoke about it when I first re-signed, there was other clubs sniffing about, but for me, being part of something here, at a club that is looking up instead of down, it was a no-brainer," says Ayling, looking back and explaining his decision to join Boro on a permanent deal.

"It’s a young coaching staff and a young squad, and I’m proud to be part of that and I hope I can bring my level of experience to that young squad to contribute. The aim is to start well this season and then we’ll see where it takes us. It’s a long season, so we can’t afford to get carried away. We just aim to start well for now."

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Boro certainly finished well last season. Their only defeat in their last 12 games, from early March onwards, came against Leeds, when Ayling was unavailable. In Ayling's final 11 outings of last season, he notched eight assists and contributed to five clean sheets.

Boro only ended up missing out on the play-offs by four points, quite something when you consider they'd started the season winless in seven and rock bottom.

That promising end to the campaign has been followed by a positive start to the summer transfer window. Ayling is one of three senior signings, with Boro having also finalised new contracts for Riley McGree and head coach Carrick. And officials are adamant key trio Emmanuel Latte Lath, Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney are going nowhere.

No wonder there's belief and a feel-good factor in the Boro ranks right now, though Ayling has warned against complacency as Carrick's side look to start the Championship season as they mean to go on.

“There’s a real confidence within the group because we finished the season so well," said Ayling ahead of tonight's pre-season friendly at Gateshead.

"But we also know that just because we finished last season well, we can’t expect to just start the next season well.

"There has to be a lot of hard work in pre-season, and there has been, where we’re trying to find that form of last year.

"We can’t just turn up on August 10 and think it’ll just click like the end of last season, we’ve got to make that happen. We’re happy with where we are. We’ve got three more weeks to work hard and I’m sure we’ll be flying for that first game."