You could say Premier League leaders Chelsea are keeping tabs on Tyrone Mings because they have one of their scouts at virtually every Town game.

It just happens to be Mings’s father, Adie, who has been working for the Londoners for two years and will be in the crowd for Sunday’s away clash with Nottingham Forest.

Mings, 21, said: “He tries to get to as many games as he can and when he speaks to me it’s as a person in football more than a dad. He sees a lot of games and players doing well, getting moves and getting into the top flight.

“He tries to speak to me from a more educated point of view rather than just a dad saying ‘You can do what you want’.

“I like that and I think it helps me to pay attention to him more because he knows what he is talking about and I know what he can offer me in terms of his knowledge.

“He played Conference level and then he was manager of Chippenham before I played for them. As soon as he left to join Chelsea I went and played for Chippenham.

“He gets sent to games that are on their list so he can do anything from U15s and U16s to checking on players who are out on loan or players they are interested in signing. He goes abroad to watch players.

“He also works in a school so during the holidays he can be watching games four nights a week as well as at weekends. I don’t know if he has recommended me to Chelsea but there’s time if he wants to!”

Given his current status and that Crystal Palace had a £3 million pre-deadline bid for him rejected by Town, it makes it all the more baffling that 6ft 3ins tall Mings was shown the door by Southampton when he was 15.

He recalled: “When they released me they gave me a mixture of reasons. One was that they didn’t have any money because they had just dropped into League One.

"Another one was that I wasn’t big enough. I was quite small at the time. When I was 15 I was quite wiry and 5ft 7ins or 5ft 8ins maybe.

“In this country they like kids that age to be big, strong, quick and able to bully people. I guess I didn’t fit the bill at the time. I haven’t a clue why I suddenly started growing.

"My dad’s not that tall — about 5ft 10ins — but my grandparents are tall so maybe it just skipped a generation.”

Meanwhile, Mings thinks there could be other players out there who could follow his route into the big-time.

But he explained: “You can take the best player out of non-league and they might not have the right attitude, while you can take other players who are not as good technically but will have a better attitude. I know I was fortunate that I got my opportunity when I did.”

Photo: Action Images

stevelincsexile added 06:48 - Oct 4 MM has a good eye for these youngsters Bishop will be eyed up next and when he gets games so will Henshall.
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Jewels added 08:09 - Oct 4 Mings speaks very well indeed, heard him on the radio. Seems a smart kid, he has the right attitude and a bright future
8

Suffolktractor added 08:21 - Oct 4 Would be a shame to see a talented young player like him throw away a career by joining the likes of Chelski
8

jas0999 added 09:06 - Oct 4 The decision to reject £3M for Mings is looking like a better decision each game. Surely our most saleable asset now? Even more so than McGoldrick potentially?
4

Len_Brennan added 10:13 - Oct 4 Couldn't disagree with you Jas. While many predicted a decline in his performance & attitude after the Palace bid was rejected, the complete opposite has happened, with his confidence now sky high also. He is no longer just a good prospect with strength & pace, he is a bona fide quality Championship full back, who is already acknowledged by the football world to be valued in excess of £3m. He is certainly likely to be transferred, in time, for more than full 'witb add ons' fee that Cressie went for. I thought he was a decent enough sort of player last season, but I didn't see what Mick did. That's why he's a successful football manager & I'm a spoofer with poor mobile coverage.

3

ArnieM added 11:04 - Oct 4 Mings is s better all round player thsn Cresswell. We will end up losing himveven if we did get promoted. I just hope we demand and get silly money like scum always do for their players. Who frankly have far less talent.
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runningout added 11:39 - Oct 4 Agree... think the scum has a few very good players in their squad though
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Mark added 11:40 - Oct 4 It wasn't that long ago that I thought our whole squad wasn't worth £0.5M, but now we have Mings and McGoldrick worth big fees and we could add Bishop to that (just turned 18 - three years younger than Mings - and making the starting lineup of a Championship team).
2

TimmyH added 12:27 - Oct 4 Chelsea can do one...unless they want to shell out big time!
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Langdon_Blue added 12:29 - Oct 4 Chelsea might ask a few questions of their scout if Mings ends up going to a Premiership club for millions...it nearly happened already. fancy not spotting the talent of your own son!
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tractorboy12341234 added 14:26 - Oct 4 It looks likely that his dad will sign him which is a shame, I say keep him until the end of the season sell him £5m minimum with a season loan back to us like Forest did with Lascelles and Darlow.
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blueboy1981 added 16:05 - Oct 4 ......... surprised ? .... not at all - the lad is Chelsea quality in the making - and will undoubtedly play for them, hopefully later rather than sooner. Knew he was special from the first game I saw him play - it was only going to be a time factor from then on. Great prospect.
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WindsorBlue added 20:45 - Oct 4 I happened to have a drink with his old man just after Mings signed. He really rated him then, and is a top top bloke. Good grounded guy, and I think that shows in Tyrone. He will go far.
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DerryfromBury added 22:14 - Oct 4 As I said about 4 weeks ago. Tyrone is the biggest and most valuable asset we have. Yes even more so then DMgD. Its without a doubt that that the big clubs will come knocking with their even bigger cheque books, but as Timmy H says, they had better be prepared to shell out really big time a club record by a mile me thinks....
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