Steve McClaren backs Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings to build ‘formidable’ partnership with Harry Maguire

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Aston Villa have picked up three points and one clean sheet from their four Premier League matches this season.

Steve McClaren has backed Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings to build a ‘very formidable’ partnership with Harry Maguire on the international stage.

Centre-back Mings, who earned his first call-up to the England squad, was an unused substitute during both games as Gareth Southgate’s side beat Bulgaria and Kosovo in their Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Manchester United defender Maguire, who moved to Old Trafford in the summer for £80 million [BBC Sport], was partnered by Michael Keane in defence.

Speaking to Football Centre on Sky Sports News (10/09/2019 at 10:50 am), former England coach McClaren waxed-lyrical about the qualities Mings has as a modern-day defender.

“In terms of modern centre-backs, who can defend one-on-one, who can go on the halfway line and press and keep the team compact because that’s what is needed then [the player that fits that profile] is the boy Mings,” McClaren told Sky Sports News.

“Unproven, but I was impressed with him last season with Aston Villa and the start he has also made in the Premier League. I think he was one of them that made mistakes but because of his pace, he got out of those mistakes. Great left foot and looks like a good character.

“Him on the left-hand side and Maguire on the right-hand side. When you look on paper, it looks pretty formidable. But paper means nothing and that’s why I always say that the best two are not always the right two.”

It would have been a great learning experience for Mings, but he will now return to Bodymoor Heath where he will be hoping to help Villa put some much-needed points on the board.

Dean Smith’s side have lost three out of their first four Premier League matches and they will be hoping to put things right when they take on West Ham United on Monday.

Villa will want to take inspiration from their last home game when they beat Everton, but they will be well aware that they’ll be in for a tough night against a West Ham team that is beginning to pick up some rhythm.