ASTON Villa defender Tyrone Mings has issued an apology after stamping on Reading striker Nelson Oliveira - causing nasty facial injuries.

The forward, on loan from Norwich, made his home debut in the goalless draw on Saturday and was looking sharp until the clash with the left-back.

Oliveira left the field with a blood-stained shirt and footage later emerged on social media, showing the stamp on his face.

Mings tweeted: “Absolutely loved wearing the claret and blue today and over the moon with the clean sheet! @AVFCOfficial.

“Feel awfully sorry to Oliveira, I hope he is ok.”

He later added: "No one feels worse than me."

Mings made his Villa debut, after signing on loan from Bournemouth.

The incident provoked plenty of debate online as to whether the incident was intentional.

Oliveira was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose and replaced by Yakou Meite.

Mings was involved in a similar incident in 2017 when he was involved in a clash with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He stamped on the then Manchester United forward and the Swede was given a three-game ban after he elbowed Mings out of frustration.

Mings later received a five-match ban of his own, despite maintaining his innocence.