Wayne Rooney told Sky Sports News on Monday morning that there was ‘a lot of pressure’ on Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings on Sunday.
The Premier League legend thinks Mings dealt with the pressure and performed well for England as they beat Croatia in their opening Euro 2020 clash.
Before the game, many were raising doubts as to whether Villa’s towering centre-back is good enough to start for his country at the back.
Well, he read danger brilliantly yesterday and managed both composure and aggression in equal measures, as Rooney delivered his verdict on Mings.
“I thought Tyrone Mings did well,” said Rooney. “I thought there was a lot of pressure on him.
“He was coming into the side and as his first game. Everybody did well.”
This performance was a slap in the face for critics and proof that the Villa man does deserve to play at this level.
But he will be well aware that the pressure and expectations will only grow from here on in.
Harry Maguire wasn’t even named in England’s 23-man squad yesterday, so that just proves where his injury is at and that probably indicates that Mings will partner John Stones for all three group matches now.
If England continue to win, keep clean sheets, and Mings maintains his performances then it will be interesting to see if Maguire is brought back during the knock stages by Southgate.
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