AFC Bournemouth
Manager Eddie Howe is anticipating 'a good match-up' between his Cherries frontmen and their former teammate Tyrone Mings.
Defender Mings is tomorrow set to lock horns with the Cherries for the first time since completing his summer move to Aston Villa.
Signed by Howe in 2015, Mings had an injury-interrupted four-year stay at Vitality Stadium and flourished during a loan spell at Villa Park during the second half of last season.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning, Howe told the media: “Our players know how good Tyrone is having trained with him over a long period of time.
“We know him well and he knows us well. There’s no doubting his qualities as a player – he’s very good on the ball, very athletic, very strong and good in the air.
“I think it’ll be a good match-up between our front players and him. It’ll be interesting to see how those duels come out in the match.
“As I said when he left, we wish him well for the future and it’ll be good to catch up with him.”
Mings’s impressive displays for Aston Villa have led to talk of a possible England call-up with Villans boss Dean Smith backing him for international recognition should he continue to progress.
Howe, asked whether he felt this would be achievable, said: “Tyrone’s got all the attributes, there’s no doubt about that.
“With us, he was really unfortunate with injuries. He was never able to get that run in the team that he wanted.
“For a lot of the time, he was fighting with Nathan for the same shirt but, as I said, there’s no doubting his quality and it’s no surprise he’s gone on to do so well at Aston Villa and I’m sure he’ll have that in his mind as something he could achieve.”
Previewing the trip to Villa Park, Howe added: “It will be another tough game against another newly-promoted team. It’s their first home game so we know that’s going to add extra spice.
“Dean has done an incredible job in a very short period of time. To get them promoted from the position they were in when he came in last season was a huge achievement.
“With his coaching team of Richard O’Kelly, who we know well, and John Terry, they’ve done extremely well and should be very proud of their efforts.”
Fielding a question about conceding the most goals on their travels in the Premier League last season, Howe replied: “Naturally, we want to try to improve that this season.
“We pride ourselves on trying to win every game and try to be positive in our approach but there has to be a balance.
“We have to make sure we’re more resolute and more resilient away from home. Every game is so difficult that we have to get our defensive structures right and will endeavour to do that on a more consistent basis this season, hopefully starting tomorrow.
“Home or away, I don’t think it really matters, when we’re clicking and when we’re on it, I think we can win any game. I think we can be that good.
“The challenge for us is when we’re not in that moment – and there will be games when we’re not in our rhythm – then we have to be more resolute and stronger and try win games.”
