MX23RW : Friday, November 8 19:35:53| >> :120:4094:4094:

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

Paul Scholes believes that Phil Jones lacks the nous to play in central defence for Manchester United and England.

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.

ID:226898: cacheID:226898:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2216:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England's goalkeeper Joe Hart punches the ball clear during the international friendly football match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 7, 2015
Read Next:
Match Analysis: Republic of Ireland 0-0 England
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!