DANIEL FARKE has expressed regret at being unable to manage Luke Ayling while he was “in his prime” ahead of the Middlesbrough defender’s emotional return to Elland Road this evening.

Ayling spent eight seasons as a Leeds player, establishing himself as a club legend in the process, but was allowed to leave in January when Farke sanctioned his loan switch to Middlesbrough.

The 32-year-old joined Boro on a permanent basis earlier this summer, signing a two-year deal on Teesside after impressing Michael Carrick with his all-action full-back displays in the second half of last season.

Carrick clearly thinks Ayling still has plenty to offer, but ahead of this evening’s Carabao Cup first-round game, Farke has implied that he believes the defender’s best days are already behind him.

“It is always a bit strange to welcome Luke here, especially in a home game at Elland Road, not in our shirt because for me, he is a club legend and what he has done for this club is unbelievable,” said the Leeds boss.

“He was a key player in the last decade and responsible for bringing this club back to the Premier League and also with an unbelievable first season at Premier League level.

“I have spoken so often and much about Luke as a player, and about how much I’d have liked to have him more or less in his prime, three, four, five years earlier.

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“And also what I think about him as a person and team-mate and colleague. He’s an outstanding character and player and definitely one of the best I’ve worked with, character wise and also for a team.”

Nevertheless, Farke has defended his decision to allow Ayling to leave as a free agent in the summer rather than offer him a new contract at Elland Road.

“When he came and asked if he can leave, he wanted more playing time as his contract was running out,” he said. “We were a little bit short in the right-back position, but we thought he earned that we allowed him this move as he’s done so much for the club.

“We allowed him this move as he did so much for the club and we also wanted him to let him go at a moment when perhaps many supporters thought, ‘Umm, it would be good to still have him here.’

“It’s always better for a club legend to more or  less finish his time when you have done so well for a club, instead of everyone saying, ‘He should have finished his career two years earlier.’ From both sides, him and us, it was a perfect ending of a great legendary time here.”