This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

With England set to face off against Montenegro on Thursday night, a number of players will be vying for a starting berth within Gareth Southgate’s first-choice XI, but Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is not deserving of a first home start; on the basis of current form.

The centre-back had impressed in his first three games to receive a call-up to the Three Lions senior squad, making 42 clearances in that time, but he did not feature in September’s international break.

However, the former AFC Bournemouth man did make his first start in the 6-0 demolition of Bulgaria in October.

Since the last round of international fixtures, Mings has started Villa’s last four games, with his side failing to keep a clean sheet in that period alongside losing their last three to Manchester City, Liverpool and most recently Wolves.

Although the defender has recently played arguably the league’s two best teams in Liverpool and City, a sense of leniency could be applied to the unimpressive defensive record his side have conjured up, but the individual performances of the £26.5m summer signing have also dropped.

According to the individual match ratings on WhoScored, in Mings’ first three top-flight games as a Villa player, he recorded an average rating of 7.42 which consequently led to his call-up, but in the last four Premier League matches his average has dropped by nearly 13% to 6.46 per match.

Not only has Mings’ defensive unit been unable to keep the opposition out, but the centre-back’s own individual performances have seemingly dropped in comparison to his early-season displays. 

With his club side now sitting in 17th place, just three points above the relegation zone, Mings returning to form will be vital for Dean Smith's side if they are to retain their top-flight status after having ended their three-year absence.

Yet on Thursday night, if Southgate is to select his starting XI on the basis of current form, the inclusion of Mings is not a decision that the England boss can comfortably justify given the decline in the performances of the Villa man.