CAPTAIN Simon Francis defended "easy target" Tyrone Mings and insisted his fellow defender deserved to be given time to prove his worth.

An £8million signing from Ipswich in June 2015, Mings's Cherries career has been blighted by a serious knee injury sustained on his Premier League debut 17 months ago.

The 23-year-old former Chippenham Town man has started Cherries' past three games – which included his first top-flight start, at Hull – coming into a backline which has recently received a barrage of criticism for goals shipped.

As well as continuing to work his way back to full fitness, converted centre-half Mings is adapting to the demands of that position and Francis is adamant his team-mate cannot reasonably be expected to be at his best just yet.

Francis told the Daily Echo: "Mingsy is probably an easy target for criticism because he was out for so long and then he came into the team and we conceded goals.

"When you come back from an injury, you can't expect to be having great games in your first games back, it's going to take time.

"Your body has to get used to it and this team is one of the hardest to come into given the intensity and the way we play. That's something which Tyrone will experience over the coming months.

"It's been so tough for him. He was out for such a long time but showed great character. I remember when he first got injured it was a big shock to him and he took it quite hard.

"But he has bounced back and I'm just glad to see him playing, whether we are conceding goals or not, it's good to see players come back from injuries and be out there playing in the Premier League week in, week out.

"The only way he is going to improve as a player is to play more games so, hopefully, that will continue."

Mings's only other first-team appearances this season came when he was used as a late substitute in the win over Leicester in December, having three months earlier made his comeback in the shock EFL Cup defeat to Preston, following 13 months on the sidelines.

Howe this month turned to Mings after Nathan Ake was recalled early from his loan spell by Chelsea and Francis was handed a three-match ban by the Football Association for a challenge on Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey – which the Cherries captain has now served.

Francis added: "Nathan had been doing so well and it was a real body blow to lose him – it was a shock to everyone at the club.

"Whether it came too early for Mingsy and he wanted to get more games, here or not, you would have to ask him. But I'm sure he's glad to be in the team and involved.

"He's a confident character and a good lad to have around the place."