Manager Mick McCarthy says Tyrone Mings will be in and around the first team squad very quickly if he plays as he did in his trial match on Monday. The 19-year-old signed an 18-month deal with the Blues earlier this afternoon after the club agreed a deal with the Evo-Stik Southern League side, which includes a pre-season friendly at the Wiltshire club.
McCarthy said: "Tyrone has a pedigree of being at a club with his time at Southampton and, through Russell and Steve McCall, who became aware of him, we brought him here on Monday to have a look at him against the Nike Academy.
"He played at left-back. He’s quick, he’s 6ft 3in, he loves a tackle. He’s only 19 but plays the game like a bloke. He’s a good talker, organises and we’re delighted to have him in.
"He’s going to be in and around the squad pretty quickly if he shows everything he did on Monday.
"There is loads to work with. We are going to give him an opportunity and it will be great if it works out.”
In addition to being with the Saints’ academy between the ages of eight and 15, Mings, whose father Adie recently left his role as Chippenham's director of football to take up a scouting position at Chelsea, has spent spells with Bristol Rovers and Yate Town, as well as at Millfield School.
Speaking in an interview with Ipswich Player, Mings, who has been handed the number 15 shirt, says it’s been quite a week since he first discovered that Town wanted him to come on trial at the end of last week: "It’s just been a crazy time really. This time last week I was working as a mortgage broker. Something I have been doing for nine months.
"Then I found out at the end of last week that Ipswich wanted me to come in and play in a friendly. After the game the manager said he’d like to sign me and here we are. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind.”
Russell Osman's son Toby, who had a trial himself with the Blues in 2007, played alongside the Blues new signing at Chippenham and is claiming responsibility for his now-former team-mate's move, tweeting: "Congrats to my man Tyrone on his move! If anyone wants to speak to [him] please come through his agent [Toby Osman]!"
Mings says a number of clubs, including Hereford United, had shown interest this season but nothing beyond that: "There have been a few clubs said to be interested but nothing has materialised until now. This is a life-changing opportunity for me and I’ve got to make sure I take it.”
Photo: ITFC