Boss Mick McCarthy says he has told Tyrone Mings that he will be Town’s left-back if interested Premier League clubs firm up their interest in current first-choice Aaron Cresswell during the January transfer window.
Mings, 20, has stood in for Cresswell - linked with a host of top flight clubs during the summer - during the Liverpudlian’s two-match ban for his red card after the home draw with Barnsley and McCarthy says he is unfortunate to have such a talented player ahead of him in the pecking order at present.
"He’s unlucky [to be missing out]," he said. "I thought Ty was excellent in both his games and whenever he’s played, but I’ve just said to him that Cressy is the best in the league, in my opinion. Certainly not many can claim that crown from him, he’s as good as anybody else in the league.
"Everybody asks me ‘Is Cressy going anywhere?’ and what I’ve said to Ty is ‘He’s not, but if he did, I wouldn’t be looking for another first-team left-back, you’d be in’. I’d be looking for somebody to back Ty up, so that’s how much I think of him.”
He added: "He’s a fine young fella and I think he was excellent in both games. I thought he had a really tough opponent against Leicester on Saturday in Jamie Vardy because he’s really quick.
"But I thought he handled him really, really well. He just goes about his job. I can’t given him any higher praise.
"If Cressy’s not playing, Mings plays. And if there’s a long-term problem, Mings plays, we’re not going looking for a loan player to fill in at left-back. He’s different class, he is.”
The solidity of the Blues’ backline last season was a significant factor in the climb to the safety of mid-table and McCarthy isn’t sure why his side has tended to let in more goals during the current campaign.
"I don’t know,” he admitted. "Why have we scored more goals than we did last year? I think there’s a stat which shows that we’ve [lost] more from winning positions and we’ve won more from losing positions.
"So, you can throw all the stats you like at me and, you know what, I haven’t got a clue. We still work at the same things.
"The league’s different this year. Why were Bolton down near the bottom? You could go round and ask everybody questions. We all work at very specific things, we work on our defending.
"Was it that Richard Stearman was such a good full-back? I don’t think so, he was great but Chambo’s been excellent.
"I haven’t got a real cut and dried answer to that one. All I know is that we’re doing OK. I think we can do better and the goals that we’ve conceded are something we’ve looked at, of course.
"The two goals we conceded last week were two quality goals from a good team and a proper predator in our league.
"They weren’t overrunning us, we weren’t getting battered, but we got done on the break with real pace and real quality finishes.”