EDDIE Howe handed Tyrone Mings his first Premier League outing of the season before predicting the defender would prove a “valuable player” this campaign.

Mings played 90 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City, his third appearance in all competitions in 2018-19.

The former Ipswich Town man, whose three-and-a-half year spell in Dorset has been injury-ravaged, emerged with plenty of credit for his display and Howe was encouraged by what he saw.

The Cherries boss told the Daily Echo: “Tyrone was good. He will be pleased with what he did.

“Adam Smith’s injury has opened a gap for him in terms of our defensive options – we are stretched to a degree.

“He’s going to be a valuable player for us between now and the end of the season.

“The key thing is it’s all about the team and when he gets his chance, he has to do his very best to make sure he is trusted to play again.

“He has done a lot of work behind the scenes and his attitude has been excellent.

“I’ve been very pleased with his mentality to not playing – he has been very patient and waited for his chance.”

Mings’s appearance at Etihad Stadium was his 13th for Cherries in the Premier League. He has faced City three times in the top flight.