Steven Gerrard explains Tyrone Mings absence amid Aston Villa defensive crisis

Steven Gerrard has revealed that Tyrone Mings missed Aston Villa 's clashed with West Ham United on Sunday after falling ill.

The 29-year-old defender's absence means that Gerrard is now left with one recognised centre-back available after £26million signing Diego Carlos ruptured his Achilles' tendon on his home debut and Kortney Hause left to join Watford on a season-long loan. Mings started the season on the bench after controversially being stripped of the captain's armband, but Gerrard has been relying on the 17-time capped England international in recent weeks alongside Ezri Konsa.

"He's not feeling too well," the Villa boss told Sky Sports when asked about Mings, who's been in the headlines lately after Gerrard called him out to the media amid the hotly-debated decision to hand midfielder John McGinn the captaincy. "He had a headache yesterday after training and he's got a high temperature.

"It's not ideal when you lose a player of his importance, but it's the reason why I always like to have four centre-backs because obviously we've got a severe injury to one and if you're faced with these situations, you've gotta adapt and have people that can cover. So, Calum [Chambers] will come in and hopefully he'll do a stern job for us."

Villa are looking to make it two wins from as many Premier League home games with West Ham's visit, but after the match will quickly shift their focus to recruiting a new centre-back before the summer transfer window slams shut. Gerrard's top target is believed to be Polish defender Jan Bednarek, who's been made available by Southampton.

Multiple reports claim that Villa are in advanced talks to sign the 26-year-old, who'll team up with international teammate Matty Cash in the midlands. Gerrard's side have already spent £49.5m this summer but the Liverpool legend wants to bolster his squad further before next Thursday's 11pm deadline.

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"If something that comes up that has changed in the last few weeks or there's a chance for us to strengthen in a different area then we'll try and execute that as well," Gerrard explained in his news conference on Friday. "But if they don't and they're not the right people we won't force.

"I won't make signings and make decisions just to collect players or just to stand still, the players have to be right and improve us in the short-term. They have to help us over the course of the season. Even if it's detrimental to me I won't make signings just for the sake of it unless I feel it's right."