HOW EDDIE COULD DO WITH OLD BOY MINGS

TYRONE MINGS returns to Bournemouth today looking to pile on the misery for Eddie Howe.

Aston Villa snapped up Mings from the Cherries a year ago on an initial loan, and boss Howe’s decision to sell the defender looks crazier every week.

Mings, 26, (with Howe, above) starred in the centre of Villa’s defence as he made 18 starts to help them to promotion at Wembley.

Villa then paid £20million to make his capture permanent, despite Mings making just 10 top-flight starts for Bournemouth after an £8m move from Ipswich.

That fee has looked increasingly shrewd, and how Bournemouth could do with him now as they battle to avoid the drop.

Villa boss Dean Smith (above) said: “It will be good for Tyrone to go back, but he will want to get a result, that is for sure.

“At the time a lot of people thought I was bringing in a left-back, but I always saw Tyrone as a centre-back and he saw himself as a centre-back.

“He has had to go and prove himself because he signed on a big contract for Bournemouth, but had an awful lot of injuries and did not play a lot of games.

“What we have managed to do is give him a number of games to prove himself and he has done that.

“You look at some of the other fees that have been paid and it has certainly been money well spent.”

Villa fans adore Mings, mobbing him on the pitch as their side reached the Carabao Cup final in midweek.

He has also broken into the England squad and has two caps after playing against Bulgaria and Kosovo last year. His composed actions in Bulgaria in the face of racists in October increased his standing further.

Smith added: “It is his attitude which stands him above all the others and has earned him that England call as well. He has proven that he is Premier League level.

“He is well liked in the dressing room and understands what it is to be a top-level professional.

“He works very hard, but the biggest thing he has done is perform on the pitch. That is what he had to do to win people over.”