Mings 'thrown under the bus' by Villa coach Gerrard, suggests Richards

Steven Gerrard's thoughts on defender Tyrone Mings' absence should not have been made public by Aston Villa head coach, says ex-player Micah Richards.

The England defender has been relieved of his role as Villa captain ahead of the new Premier League season, with midfielder John McGinn given the armband for the 2022-23 campaign.

And Mings was out for the season opener at former club Bournemouth, where Villa lost 2-0 to newly-promoted Cherries.

Speaking afterwards, Gerrard said he would select Mings again when he "looks me in the eye and shows he's ready to play".

But Richards, who was a Villa player when Mings arrived at the club, suggested Gerrard's comments threw his former team-mate 'under the bus'.

"I'm flabbergasted, to be honest, because Mings is much loved by everyone's dressing room, and the Villa fans seem to like him too," Richards said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"He tweeted when he lost the captaincy, and he seemed to take it well.

"It's not like Gerrard...he kind of threw it under the bus a bit there. Normally you agree with everything Gerrard says: he's straight to the point, direct, and he is a manager who takes care of everything that happens internally in the locker room.

"But he kind of hit the nail on the head that there's a bit more to be honest. Nobody would take the loss of the captaincy well, it's just a natural reaction.

"I just feel like, for Mings and Gerrard, they could have kept this in-house.

"Maybe Gerrard was frustrated because they had just lost the match, and he was asked the question so he gave an honest answer, but normally he keeps it between the group. It's very interesting ."