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'He needs to look me in the eye and show that he's ready to play': Steven Gerrard lays down the gauntlet to Tyrone Mings after he stripped him of the Aston Villa captaincy and dropped him for season opener

Steven Gerrard will only restore Tyrone Mings to the Aston Villa side when the defender 'looks him in the eye and shows that he's ready to play.'

Villa's manager stripped the England international of the captain's armband in pre-season and appointed John McGinn in his place.

Mings, 29, was also an unused substitute as Villa lost their Premier League season opener 2-0 at Bournemouth on Saturday.

England defender Tyrone Mings was stripped of the Aston Villa captaincy during pre-season

England defender Tyrone Mings was stripped of the Aston Villa captaincy during pre-season

Villa manager Steven Gerrard has challenged Mings to show consistency to regain his place

Explaining those calls, Gerrard told BBC Radio WM: 'When I made the decision over the captaincy, I set him that challenge.