Paul Scholes: Phil Jones is not "clever enough" to play centre-back

Paul Scholes has claimed that Phil Jones is "not clever enough" to play centre-back for Manchester United and England.

The 23-year-old has played in central defence and full-back as well as a defensive midfield role during his time with the Red Devils.

However, Scholes feels that his positional sense is not good enough to play at centre-back for Louis van Gaal's men on a regular basis.

"I just think at centre back, when he is playing against clever forwards, he tends to get dragged out of position quite easily," Scholes told ITV Sport.

"At right back you still need to be clever positionally but I think he can use his pace and power and he hasn't got a bad delivery either.

"When he first came to Manchester United he was a right back, he played right back all the time. He has got strength and power and he can get up and down the pitch. I just think at centre half he is not quite clever enough to do it."

Jones played at right-back for England in their 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.