Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings has defended England team-mate Harry Maguire, insisting he is not the ‘weak link’ of the team’s defence.

Maguire has endured an undoubtedly challenging season at club level with Manchester United and England boss Gareth Southgate was forced to defend his decision to call the 29-year-old up for this month’s internationals against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Speaking to The Times, Mings admitted he absolutely agrees that Maguire deserves his spot in the team and urged his critics to take a closer look at his game.

“If I were in Harry’s shoes and I’d been such a good servant to the national team in terms of the stuff that happened in Russia, and the amount of games that he’s played and the player he is, and I missed a couple of games through injury but then I was fit, I’d like to think there would be a level of loyalty or credit in the bank still that would allow me to at least come back,” Mings said.

“I fully understand the decision the manager made in the summer and I actually can agree with it.”

Mings is expected to partner Maguire at the back for Tuesday’s friendly against the Ivory Coast, with Southgate set to make wholesale changes to the team that saw off Switzerland.