Tyrone Mings may have successfully established himself in the Town team after being picked up from non-league Chippenham but he is still nowhere near achieving his long-term targets.

The powerful left-back doesn’t hold back when asked about his ambitions, explaining: “I want to play for the England U21s and then the senior England team. That’s my goal but, hey, that’s a long way in the future.

“Luke Shaw has just dropped into the U21s for the Croatia game so I think there’s a little bit of competition there!

“But there aren’t that many English left-footed and left-sided defenders in the Premier League, so if I can crack into the top flight it will always be my ambition to play international football.”

After attracting a £3 million bid from Crystal Palace at the end of August it is a safe bet that Mings, who also qualifies to play international football for Barbados via his grandparents, is under scrutiny on a regular basis, not only from club scouts but those acting on behalf of England U21 boss Gareth Southgate.

But he insisted: “I don’t really think about that. There are scouts at every single game I play in, whether they are watching me or someone else and I just happen to catch the eye. I don’t really think it makes a difference either way.

“It’s just part and parcel of playing well, being a new player on the block that no one’s ever heard of or seen play before. Now I am playing regularly it’s only natural, I guess.”

Mings has always been quick to attribute a lot of the credit for his progress to Town boss Mick McCarthy and assistant manager Terry Connor, as well as team-mates like Jay Tabb and Cole Skuse.

He added: “Playing with Tabby has definitely helped me. I think he does a lot of work that goes unnoticed, as does Cole, so to have them in the team when I go forward does help. It’s the same on the other side when Jonny [Parr] does as well.

“I wasn’t worried when Jonny came in because I always knew the manager would sign another left-back. You can’t go a whole season with just one.

“But when Jonny came in he had to wait his turn, then he got his chance at Derby when Chambo got injured. We shifted around again, then settled down and I think Jonny has found himself in a different position to what he expected to play when he first arrived.

“He’s obviously doing very well and the whole back four is really settled at the moment. It’s a vocal back four and for me playing next to Christophe is also a big help.

“He’s obviously very experienced and probably one of our standout players this season, if not the standout player, so to have him coaching me and helping me through games at such an early point in my development is definitely a good thing for me.”

Photo: Action Images

commuterblue added 08:33 - Oct 7 If you keep developing at this pace, nothing is impossible. Good luck and work hard.
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BlueNomad added 08:45 - Oct 7 He is going to be a star! His progress has been phenomenal.
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spanishblue added 09:41 - Oct 7 Funny the difference a few games makes, to think several people on here wanted him out (shame on you) ,this just goes to prove that the great yorkie man that played for Ireland knows a lot more than the majority do. Ty keep it going because there,ll be down times as well,that will tell how good you can be, sadly I think you,ll be sold for lots of dosh but good luck I hope you get to play for England one day very soon after playing for us in the p/league.

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bluelady added 11:00 - Oct 7 Interesting his comments on Cole Skuse who gets an awful lot of stick.... his work off the ball and covering the back four is noticed only when he isnt on the pitch and quite often it goes horribly wrong!
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4-4-2 added 12:13 - Oct 7 i agree with bluelady- i lost count of the number of times on sunday where i saw cole skuse clearing the danger from the edge of the box, or tracking a runner and making the challenge. Sadly though i feel people are going to remember the one clearance he messed up which resulted in the goal.
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redandblue26 added 23:25 - Oct 8 Cole skuse the new scapegoat it seems one in every team
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