Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings has admitted the chance to work under John Terry was a big factor in his decision to join the club as they prepare for Monday's play-off final against Derby.

The centre-back arrived at Villa Park in January and his performances have been a key reason for the remarkable second half of the campaign that Dean Smith's side have had.

A fantastic run, that included a club-record ten successive wins, took Villa into the play-offs and they are now just 90 minutes from a return to the Premier League, with Mings a fans favourite and integral to the team.

And, he told the Guardian that he is loving his time at the club, with the chance to learn from the former England captain, who is Smith's assistant, a reason he chose Villa.

"John Terry is a fantastic centre-back – a centre-back that a lot of people would put in their all-time Premier League XI. So when I knew that there was a chance that I could come here and learn from someone like that, in my position, it was an opportunity that I couldn’t really turn down."

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The 26-year-old also explained how one-to-one analysis and vital tips from Terry has made him a better player.

"His overriding comments to me are: ‘Go through the game without being seen.’ He tells me that a lot. And those little bits of information are obviously great.

"As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep the ball out of the net. If you do that and let the strikers get all the adulation and the headlines, then you’re probably doing your job."

The Verdict

Clearly, Terry has been doing a fine job with Mings and the defence because they have improved significantly in the past few months.

The on-loan Bournemouth man is one of the first names on the teamsheet for Villa and will have a big role to play at Wembley.

Then, the priority will be signing Mings on a permanent basis and his comments suggest he would love to return.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.