Mings ready to "roll back the years" at left-back as Villa injuries bite

Tyrone Mings says he is ready to "roll back the years" and play as an emergency left-back for Aston Villa, as Unai Emery tries to cope with another injury in the position.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who had been filling in at left-back because of injuries to Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri, suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-0 win at Newcastle. That left Mings, who started his career as a full-back, to finish the match there.

Maatsen is due back in training this week, but the 33-year-old defender could be needed again in the short term as Villa prepare to host the Norwegian side Viking in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

"Cut my dreads off"

"I felt like I should cut my dreads off and roll back the years," Mings joked. "I hurt my hip as soon as I went there, high up the pitch. I got a bit excited thinking I was going to shoot from the edge of the box and it just didn't come to fruition. But it is fine."

He said Emery had asked him during the week how he felt about playing there if needed, because Wan-Bissaka had "put in a huge shift". "If there was a stretcher option available for him in the second half, I think he might have taken it," he said.

"It summarises what the group is like. If someone drops out, someone will cover. If someone is struggling, someone will step in."

Mings, who began his career in non-league football, has not started a game at left-back since he left Ipswich for Bournemouth in a £8 million move in 2015. He is now Villa's second-longest serving player.

"The subs made a huge impact on Saturday so yeah, it was different but also enjoyable," he said. "They went long in the period I was at left-back so I was able to help out. I think every manager would like a six foot five left-back defending at the back post in those situations."

A rare clean sheet

The win at St James' Park brought only Villa's second Premier League clean sheet of the season, after they had conceded twice in each of their previous three league games.

Emery saved particular praise for Mings' partner in central defence, Victor Lindelof, who has been asked to replace the injured Ezri Konsa. The manager said the Sweden international was setting an example for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, the £30 million summer signing who has yet to play for Villa in the league.

"He is a fantastic guy, a fantastic professional and fantastic player," Emery said of Lindelof. "He has experience and is playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, whether it is with us or his national team."

"It is a very good example because I believe when we will need Taylor, he is going to play in the same way as Lindelof. Why? Because I think he has the same qualities. He is watching him every day in training and in matches. When his time comes to play, he will feel confident."