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Aston Villa have been handed a major injury boost after one first-team player made his long-awaited return from injury ahead of schedule.

Defender Tyrone Mings ruptured his ACL against Newcastle United on the first day of the Premier League season and was expected to miss the majority of the campaign.

However, hope Mings can return to action before the end of the season has been offered after the club confirmed the 30-year-old has returned to first-team training.

Although Mings’ exact return is not yet known, with this weekend’s game against Fulham likely to come too soon for the former Bournemouth man, Unai Emery will be hoping his captain will be fit enough to feature against Nottingham Forest on 24 February.

Regardless though, Mings’ impending availability will serve as a major boost to the club, who are otherwise racked with injuries, particularly to defenders, including Ezri Konsa who is out with an ankle injury until the end of next month.

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