It is becoming quite the recurrence in Leeds United games this season, Luke Ayling marauding upfield with the ball at his feet.
More rudimentary managers may be appalled to see their centre-back or right-back so high up the pitch, precariously carrying the ball into enemy territory but that is exactly what Marcelo Bielsa likes.
Leeds' style relies on plenty of verticality, which in layman's terms means forward passing and ball-carrying at every opportunity. If that isn't possible, only then will Leeds go sideways or backwards.
Ayling is the best example of a player who has taken on board Bielsa's coaching to a tee.
At 29 years-old and with no prior top flight experience, Ayling leads every player in Europe's top five leagues for the distance he has covered whilst making progressive carries, as per FBRef.com.
A progressive carry is simply a player having the ball at his feet and moving it towards the opponents' goal. This is not to be confused with a dribble or a take-on, as they rely on beating opponents. Instead, Ayling's ball-carrying bypasses them.
Ayling leads Villarreal defender Pau Torres into second, another centre-back but one who has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United in the past, and interestingly Rodrigo de Paul into third.
Of course, Ayling's starting position when he picks up the ball is notably less advanced than De Paul meaning he is less likely to encounter the type of pressure that will dispossess him immediately.
This makes it difficult to characterise who is the 'better' carrier, but what it does show is that Leeds' ability to progress the ball has not been harmed by their inability to sign the Argentine.
Despite the January transfer window opening, Leeds are unlikely to make any major moves in this window, with transfers mainly set to concern the younger players such as Ryan Edmondson who has just joined League One Northampton Town.
Similarly of interest is another name on the list, Brighton and Hove Albion's Adam Webster. The 26-year-old Englishman has flown somewhat under the radar with Brighton these past two seasons but could certainly prove problematic this weekend if Leeds underestimate his ability to do just what Ayling does in build-up.
Webster is not the only Brighton player to pose a threat to Leeds from deeper positions, as their very own Kalvin Phillips can attest.
