IPSWICH Town defender Tyrone Mings is not daunted by having the Blues’ most consistent player ahead of him in the Portman Road pecking order.

Mings made his Football League debut at Burnley on Saturday in Town’s Championship curtain-closer and fared well, despite the Suffolk side’s 2-0 defeat.

Playing in front of the 20-year-old, in midfield, was Town’s usual left-back Aaron Cresswell, who played every minute of every game this season, after his 90 minutes at Turf Moor.

Last season’s Player of the Year Cresswell has had a solid second season and there is no question that he will begin pre-season as Mick McCarthy’s first-choice at left-back.

But that doesn’t faze Mings, who can also play at centre-back, and the former Chippenham part-timer is relishing the challenge.

“Aaron is obviously a top player. If he moves forward and I play there (left-back) then great,” said the towering Mings. “If we have to compete together for left-back then that’s healthy competition.

“At the moment I’ve only played left-back. I played centre-back in my first reserve team game at Ipswich but in the future, as long as I am playing I’m not fussed. I’m 6ft 4in and you can say I’m tall for a left-back and a bit unorthodox but if I’m doing my job I can’t really complain.”

When Mings returns to pre-season it will mark a remarkable half-year for the former mortgage advisor who was playing in Evo-Stik Division One South, six levels below Town, in December.

And he will be joined in his first, full professional season by the likes of first-year pros Mark Timlin, David October, Jonny Leddy, Tom Winter and Jack Marriott, who made his League bow as a substitute at the weekend.

“It’s very important. It’s an opportunity to get on a level par with everyone else. As I came in December I was playing catch-up,” said Mings.

“I’ve made my debut, hopefully done ok, and then when pre-season comes I can hopefully kick on again.

He added: “Jack is 18 I think so for him to come on and make his debut is special for him. He could have had a couple of goals as well which for a goalscorer is great.”