Tyrone Mings has made a pretty impressive start to life on loan at Aston Villa.

The Bournemouth loanee has put on spectacular individual displays in the four games he has played for the club since his January move to Villa Park.

Dean Smith has opted to use the left-back in a more central role partnering up with Tommy Elphick at the heart of the defence.

Having been impressive since his arrival, you would expect the club to want to keep him come the end of his loan spell – but that is easier said than done.

According to reports, there is no clause in the loan deal that gives the Championship club an option to make the move permanent in the summer.

And this could be a costly decision that will be of concern to the Aston Villa supporters.

They all know the well-documented shortcomings the club have had in defence this season and Smith moved to improve the problem area he inherited back in October.

Signing Mings went some way to alleviating the burden on the backline which the Villa faithful will be thankful for – but they won’t be happy at the schoolboy error by the club not to have a first option inserted into the deal.

The 25-year-old’s future at the club will end in the summer, that is a given, but the Villa fans need to be patient as even though there has been no clause in the deal, it does not mean they will not look to get a deal done once the loan ends.

If he continues to impress, Bournemouth might have second thoughts about a permeant move away from Dean Court and opt to play him on a more consistent basis.

Failing that, his form could well see other clubs join the race for his signature.

That will be a body blow to the Villa fans who have taken to Mings since his drop down to the Championship.

The club’s supporters will be desperate to keep the former Ipswich defender, and they will need to hope the club share their desire to have him on board past this season.

Their future progress on the pitch could hinge on completing a deal for the impressive loanee.