GERRARD TAKES THE ARMBAND OFF MINGS

STEVEN GERRARD has stripped England defender Tyrone Mings of the Aston Villa captaincy and given the job to John McGinn. The Villa boss had hinted strongly at a change throughout last season, when he would only confirm Mings as his ‘short-term’ captain, and he has now promoted McGinn, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as vice-captain and Ashley Young as club captain. Gerrard said: ‘Not having the responsibility of the captaincy will allow Tyrone to focus more on his own game, which can only benefit him and the team.’