Former Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings had a Champions League debut to forget for Aston Villa after giving away a bizarre penalty against Club Brugge last night.

The 31-year-old had just returned from a 14 month lay off after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at Newcastle United on the opening day of last season.

Mings was completing an incredible journey from non-league to Champions League football, making his first appearance in the competition - but ended it by making unwanted headlines.

He was penalised for picking up a short goal-kick by Emiliano Martinez, without knowing referee Tobias Stieler had restarted the game. 

Mings had clearly not realised the kick had already been taken and that the ball was in play, and duly became the first Englishman to concede a penalty on his Champions League debut. 

Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converted the resulting 52nd-minute penalty to earn a 1-0 victory for the Belgian champions.

Tyrone Mings was making his Champions League debut. Tyrone Mings was making his Champions League debut. (Image: PA)

The England International may feel hard done by as Arsenal defender Gabriel was spared in the exact same circumstances against Bayern Munich in last season’s quarter-final.

On that occasion Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg did not penalise, saying it was a “kid’s mistake” and not in the spirit of the game to award a penalty.

Villa boss Unai Emery didn’t mince words when discussing Mings' costly error by saying:  “It’s the biggest mistake I witnessed in my career." 

It was a nightmare end to what had begun as a dream evening for the former Town player, who signed for the Blues for £10,000 from non-league side Chippenham Town in 2012. 

Mings went on to make 63 appearances for Town, before moving to Bournemouth for £8m and then signed at Villa for £20m in 2019.