Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Chelsea - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 16, 2022 Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings in action with Chelsea's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings could win the liking of Unai Emery and may be kept on by his new manager, according to the club’s former striker Frank McAvennie.
The Lowdown: Mings’ hit-and-miss season
The Englishman has undoubtedly blown hot and cold so far this season, making some horrendous individual mistakes and playing his part in some poor form for Villa.
Mings was stripped of the captaincy by Steven Gerrard during the summer and has arguably struggled to respond, with his 6.54 WhoScored rating significantly lower than his 6.74 of last term, and he could now miss out on a place in England’s World Cup squad.
He was impressive in Sunday’s 3-1 win at home to Manchester United in the Premier League, though, making eight clearances and completing 90% of his passes, and he could now have a clean slate to excel under new boss Emery.
The Latest: Defender backed to stay
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed that the Spaniard could take a shining to Mings and retain his services moving forward, amid reports in recent weeks casting doubts over the defender’s Villa future.
The 62-year-old said:
“When a new manager comes in, everyone is on trial. That will be the case at Villa now.
“Players like Mings have from now until January to prove to Emery that they are worth being a part of his team. The players need to prove themselves in training over the next couple of weeks before the World Cup. It is as simple as that.
“Mings is a very good player but sometimes his concentration lets him down. He has not had the best time with managers either. That cannot have been good for him.
“Emery is a great manager. I think he might take a liking to Mings. It is a fresh start. It could be good for the boy.”
The Verdict: Massive chance to shine
Mings’ loss of form has undoubtedly been a concern, but this change of management offers the best possible chance for him to now prove his worth, having been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Gabby Agbonlahor in the past.
Should Villa move for Conor Gallagher?
Yes
No
In Emery, he is now playing under a manager who is famed for making his teams expertly drilled and hard to beat, and it could get the best out of the 29-year-old.
Bringing in a top-class centre-back partner for Mings could be exactly what is needed in January, with the Englishman arguably in need of another top-quality defender alongside him.
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