Tyrone Mings determined to make up for lost time at Aston Villa

Perhaps none has been so hungry to get started as Tyrone Mings.

The 25-year-old yesterday became the club’s third arrival of this particular transfer window when he joined on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season.

Mings is a fiercely ambitious character who is determined to be playing in the top flight next season, whether it be at Villa or back with the Cherries.

But after having been limited to just 22 total appearances since moving to the south coast club in an £8million from Ipswich in 2015, his primary focus is on playing.

“My overriding feeling is one of relief that the deal got done and excitement that I am at this club and can play some football,” he said.

“To go out and have a fresh start I think is a really healthy thing.

“Hopefully the manager at Bournemouth sees I can play and the manager here will hopefully want me too. It gives me a chance to show what I can do.”

For Mings, who began his career at non-league Yate Town, the past three-and-a-half years have frequently been a tale of misfortune.

He missed more than 12 months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament just six minutes into his Premier League debut.

After an intensive period of rehabilitation, he then missed a further seven months with a back injury and this season has found regular playing time hard to come by in a strong Bournemouth team.

Both Albion and Nottingham Forest took an interest in his services before Villa eventually struck a deal with the Premier League club.

“I worked all my life to get to the Premier League and six minutes into it, I knew I would be out for the season,” said Mings.

“It was a difficult time because it was Bournemouth’s first season in the league and I might not have got the chance to play in the Premier League again had Bournemouth gone down.

“That could have been it.

“There were a few of those thoughts in the first months of the injury, thinking: ‘I want to play in the Premier League.’

“Now my feeling is I just want to play football.

“I am very grateful for the clubs which showed interest when I became available for loan in this window.

He continued: “I don’t think too much about people forgetting about me. But there is always a want and a desire for a player to prove themselves. I just want to play football and impress every time I step on the pitch.

“This gives me a chance to show what I can do. I have worked all my life to get to the Premier League. I want to have a good career and make it to the top. Villa are in a great position and I want to help get the club promoted. Then who knows what will happen in the summer.”

Mings will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game with Reading, who sit 22nd in the table.

Boss Dean Smith is hopeful Andre Green can shake off a hamstring problem in time to be involved.