Tyrone Mings has played in 14 Premier League games this season—and Aston Villa are unbeaten in all of them. The defender admits he’s surprised by his strong performances after a long injury layoff.
Mings tore the ACL in his right knee during Villa’s opening match of the 2023/24 season against Newcastle. The injury sidelined him for over a year, with his return finally coming in a Carabao Cup clash against Crystal Palace in October. Though Villa lost that cup tie, Mings has since helped the team go undefeated in the league when he’s on the pitch.
“At the beginning of the season, I was out injured, so to now be fit and contributing is a success for me,” Mings told Sky Sports.
“There was a lot of uncertainty—whether I’d return, when I’d return, and what level I’d come back at. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how I’ve played, and we still have two big games left.”
He continued: “My goal was to be playing, playing well, and pain-free by season’s end. If I hit that, I’d consider it a successful year.”
Villa’s recent 1-0 win over Bournemouth saw Mings back in the starting lineup, with his return boosting the club’s push for Champions League qualification ahead of crucial clashes against Spurs and Manchester United.
Reflecting on his journey, Mings said: “We’re a small part of the club’s long story, but players like John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and I have experienced both the lows of the Championship and the highs of recent years. Our paths have all been different, but we’ve each helped the club reach this point.”
Despite their Champions League run ending in the quarter-finals, Villa’s comeback win over PSG in the second leg showed their potential. Mings believes the team still has more to achieve.
“There will always be disappointments, but the standard here is success,” he said. “We’ll finish the season feeling positive but with a hint of ‘what if.’”
“Yearly European qualification is a big deal, but we’re aiming for trophies and long-term success. The league table doesn’t lie—38 games show who deserves what.”
Mings praised manager Unai Emery’s experience in cup competitions and the elevated standards he’s set.
“When I got injured, Villa had just qualified for the Conference League. If you’d offered that again this season, they’d have said they want Europa or Champions League. As players, we need to embrace those expectations and thrive on them.”
