Tyrone Mings: My head and heart were at Aston Villa

Villa completed the permanent signing of the 26-year-old earlier this week, in a deal worth at least £20m.

Playing an integral role in the club's historic run of ten consecutive wins last season ahead of their promotion via the play-offs, the defender expressed his delight at returning to B6 this summer.

"My head and my heart were at Aston Villa after everything we went through in the short space of time that I was there last season so I'm delighted to be back." Mings said, speaking to Sky Sports News.

"Obviously my time at Bournemouth was interrupted by injuries and never really got going.

"I wouldn't say I never felt at home at Bournemouth, but I never really got the chance to have a consistent run of games for different reasons.

"It's just nice to be in a place where I can perform on the pitch, all any footballer wants to do is obviously play and get some game time.

"I'm very grateful for the chance that they gave me in January and hope that we can back up what we did then with some success in the Premier League."

Having signed for Bournemouth as a full-back from Ipswich Town in 2015, Dean Smith utilised Mings in central defence at Villa to great effect.

The defender hailed the belief held in him by Smith, Richard O'Kelly and John Terry as a key reason behind his superb form at B6 through the club's promotion push.

"A lot can be said for tactics and working on the training ground." he said.

"The belief that they gave me when I came here and the confidence that they had in me was a huge factor in terms of how I played on the pitch.

"They were obviously very keen to get me in, they showed that through the month of January and when I got here I felt like I was working under three people that really believed in me and really wanted to help."

Elsewhere, former Aston Villa winger Albert Adomah has signed a two-year deal with Nottingham Forest. He departed the West Midlands following the end of his contract this summer.