Aston Villa Champions League push back on cards as Fabrizio Romano shares Tyrone Mings update
Aston Villa and Unai Emery are in the midst of a minor injury crisis, with a number of key first-team stars facing extended spells on the treatment table.
The most recent name to join the injury list at Villa Park was Boubacar Kamara, with Villa confirming that the French midfielder is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign having sustained a knee ligament injury during their defeat to Manchester United (11 February).
Some have suggested that Kamara’s absence could dent Villa’s hopes of finishing in the Champions League places this season. However, supporters have just been handed a new boost from Fabrizio Romano surrounding the fitness of Tyrone Mings.
Writing on his personal X account on Thursday (15 February) he said: “Huge news for Aston Villa as club announces Tyrone Mings’ initial return to training, hoping to be ready and 100% fit as soon as possible.
“Positive one for Unai Emery after recent problems with injured players.”
Mings hasn’t played for Emery’s side since the opening weekend of the season when he was substituted after only 36 minutes in the Villans’ 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park. However, his return could help Villa massively in the remainder of the campaign.
Can Tyrone Mings help Aston Villa to the Champions League?
The 30-year-old’s last full match for Villa came on the final day of last season in a 2-1 home win to Brighton. Defensively, Mings impressed with an almost faultless performance, winning 100 per cent of his aerial duels while only being dribbled past once in the contest, according to stats via Fotmob.
In the crucial draw with Liverpool at the back end of the campaign, the England international managed to win 75 per cent of his ground duels and register a remarkable five interceptions as Villa managed to keep the likes of Mohammed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz fairly quiet.
Mings, like a lot of Villa defenders, very rarely throws himself into challenges and actually completed fewer tackles than 98 per cent of centre-backs in the Premier League last term, averaging 0.43 a match, according to Fbref.
However, his positioning has been a key part of Villa’s defensive shape under Emery, allowing him to make an average of 1.54 interceptions per 90 minutes last season, a figure better than 81 per cent of his positional peers in the division.
On the ball, the 30-year-old adds an extra dimension to the backline, completing more carries into the final third of the pitch than 68 per cent of defenders. On top of that Mings places in the 86th percentile for dribbles into the opposition penalty area.
Mings’ return may also help Villa from set-pieces this season as the England defender has always carried a threat in the air. While he isn’t the most prolific in front of goal himself, he placed in the 80th percentile of defenders for assists per game last season.
Champions League push back on for Unai Emery at Villa Park
It doesn’t seem as though Villa will rush Mings back into action and it could be a while before he takes to the field at Villa Park, but the centre-back’s return could be season-defining for Emery’s side.
With Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos currently sidelined while Pau Torres makes his way back from injury, there aren’t loads of options currently in Emery’s side and if Mings can return to the fold “as soon as possible” as Romano suggested, Villa may be able to sneak into the Premier League’s top four.
In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton has urged Emery to sign a new centre-forward after Troy Deeney slammed Ollie Watkins
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