Aston Villa's clean sheets are telling us something about Tyrone Mings

There's been quite a lot of discussion this season about Aston Villa's best defensive partnership, particularly when it comes to the decision between Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, and I can understand why supporters have different opinions on the subject. Torres is an outstanding footballer who offers qualities in possession that are incredibly important to the way Unai Emery wants his team to play, but I think the performances Mings has produced over recent weeks deserve much more recognition than they've perhaps received, particularly when you look at the circumstances in which Villa have been getting positive results.

The victory over Newcastle United was another example of Mings demonstrating exactly why he remains such a valuable member of this squad. I thought he was excellent alongside Victor Lindelöf, dealing with the physical threat Newcastle attempted to provide and making important interventions whenever the ball was delivered into dangerous areas. It wasn't a match where Villa completely dominated possession or prevented Newcastle from getting into their half, particularly after the break, but there was a real sense of security about the defensive performance, and Mings played a significant part in that.

 Villa's Premier League clean sheets this season have come with Mings in the team. That's not to suggest he's solely responsible for those results, because defensive performances are always about the collective structure, but it does challenge the suggestion that Villa are automatically a better side whenever Torres starts ahead of him. If you look at the performances against Hull, Spurs, Brentford and Newcastle, there's a consistent theme of Mings being particularly effective when Villa are facing opponents who want to compete physically, deliver crosses and create opportunities through second balls, albeit he made a mistake against the bees.

I think that's where the distinction between Mings and Torres becomes particularly important. They're very different players, and there will be matches where one is better suited to the opposition than the other. When Villa expect to dominate possession and need somebody who can help build attacks from deep, Torres offers something that very few centre-backs can replicate. His passing range, composure and ability to manipulate the opposition's pressing structure are enormous assets, but when Villa are facing a side whose attacking approach is built around physical duels and deliveries into the penalty area, there's a strong argument that Mings provides exactly what the team requires.

Newcastle were a good example of that, because despite having plenty of possession in certain periods, they didn't really demonstrate the creativity or attacking patterns required to consistently break Villa down. Their most obvious route towards goal was through crosses and set pieces, and Mings was extremely comfortable dealing with those situations. Alongside Lindelöf, he ensured Villa weren't regularly being dragged into desperate defensive situations, and the organisation between the two was particularly impressive.

There are some small limitations to Mings' game, and I don't think we need to pretend otherwise to appreciate what he's contributing. He's not as comfortable as Torres when it comes to progressing possession through the opposition's press, and there are occasions when he can be a little too ambitious with his passing or decision-making. I also wasn't particularly enthusiastic about seeing him charging forward from left-back in the closing stages against Newcastle, especially when Villa were protecting a narrow lead and the priority should have been maintaining their defensive shape. He obviously got excited!

That late switch to left-back was another reminder of the problems Villa are currently experiencing in that position. With Ian Maatsen unavailable and Aaron Wan-Bissaka having to provide cover on the opposite side, Emery has been forced to find different solutions, and the possibility of Torres operating at left-back in certain matches was also discussed with Jacob. It's not an ideal situation, particularly because both players are naturally more comfortable centrally, but the manager has demonstrated throughout his time at Villa that he's prepared to make adjustments depending on what a particular game requires.

I also think there's something important in how Emery is managing the workloads of his defenders. Torres isn't somebody who can necessarily be expected to play three times a week without consideration for his fitness, and having Mings available allows Villa to rotate without losing the experience or defensive leadership required at Premier League level. With Champions League matches taking place in midweek, there are going to be opportunities for both players, and I don't think the conversation necessarily needs to revolve around establishing one permanent first choice.

What has impressed me most about Mings is the way he's responded to the competition and the changing circumstances around him. He's experienced significant injury problems, watched Villa evolve considerably under Emery and now finds himself part of a defensive unit that has undergone another major change following Konsa's departure. Yet he's continuing to demonstrate that he can contribute at a very high level, particularly in matches where his physical attributes and defensive instincts become especially important.

I would probably still lean towards Torres when everybody is fit and Villa are looking to impose themselves through possession, but that doesn't mean Mings should be viewed simply as somebody filling in until the Spaniard returns. He's earning his opportunities through performances, and the defensive improvement we've seen in recent weeks suggests Emery has a very good reason to continue using him.

Villa need different solutions for different opponents, and having two experienced left-sided centre-backs with contrasting qualities should be considered a strength rather than a problem. Mings has reminded everybody of his value, and if Villa are going to continue building on their recent results, I suspect he'll have a significant part to play.