Tyrone Mings was notable absentee in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Stade Rennais, failing to make the matchday squad in the Villans’ last friendly before the new season. The omission comes just days after he was stripped of the captaincy, so his place in the side might be uncertain as the new season looms.
Steven Gerrard named Diego Carlos alongside Ezri Konsa at centre-back against Rennes while Ashley Preece of Birmingham Live revealed that Mings played in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Fulham.
It’s a strange move for Villa’s final exhibition game, especially considering Mings was joined by Emiliano Buendia, Kaine Kesler Hayden and Calum Chambers – three players unlikely to start on a regular basis.
Villa travel to Dean Court to face Bournemouth in their first Premier League game of the campaign on Saturday, August 6 and it wouldn’t be a shock if Mings was to miss out. Carlos is a shoo-in to start after being made vice-captain and shining in pre-season, so Konsa partner him?
Mings was very gracious towards John McGinn after the captaincy was swapped to the midfielder, but he must now be worrying that he’s becoming expendable in Gerrard’s eyes.
The 29-year-old failed to make the England squad in June and has only played once for the national team since 2021, so he can’t afford to lose his Villa spot for the sake of his fledging World Cup hopes.
In other news, Bertrand Traore must leave Aston Villa after being ‘banished’ from first-team
