Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness disagree with Wayne Rooney over Lisandro Martinez

Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness have a very different view of Lisandro Martinez to that of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.

Martinez joined the Red Devils this summer, following Erik ten Hag from Ajax.

The Argentine got off to a nightmare start at Old Trafford, struggling as part of United’s disastrous beginning to the campaign.

Amid disappointing displays against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford Martinez was heavily criticised, with questions asked about his ability to play at centre-back due to his size.

Many feel his 5ft9” frame makes him incompatable for the English top flight, but he has since made real headway in recent wins over the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

Martinez has been excellent in the last few weeks, with Ten Hag’s men going on a run of four straight wins.

Despite that, Sky Sports pundit Carragher has reiterated his doubts on The Overlap show, saying: “I think he’s a good player. I wouldn’t want a centre-back who was 5ft 9” in my team. I would not.

“We’ll see. He’s had four good games. You’re getting carried away. If [Martin] Odegaard scores the opening goal [for Arsenal on Sunday] then you’ll be saying he made a mistake.

“But for a defender to be that size and play – never mind in the Premier League – at any level of football, he’s got to be a good player. Because that is not normal.

“His passing is very good, he looks aggressive. He looks like a leader. He’s not a bad player, but to play at that level of football at 5ft 9” – I wouldn’t want to play alongside someone who was 5ft 9 “as a centre back.”

Carragher’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness holds a similar view, telling talkSPORT last week: “I was racking my mind to come up with anyone who’s played in the Premier League or indeed the First Division that size and been a success.

“He’s not particularly special at anything. I would say he’s feisty and he’s aggressive. The other thing I don’t like about him is he goes to ground too readily. That’s not a good sign for a defender.”

Not everyone is doubting Martinez’s ability and size, though, with Rooney backing the Argentina international.

“I think Martínez has the potential to be a success in the Premier League,” the DC United manager told The Times.

“He’s a good footballer, but what he needs is for his team to be dominating possession and playing high up the pitch, so he can use his reading of the game and footballing skills.

“If you put Martínez in the Manchester City team, there wouldn’t be any questions about him. Fernandinho thrived as a centre-back for City at times and Javier Mascherano was brilliant there for Barcelona, and neither are very tall.

“It’s about being in a team with the right style of play and the quicker Ten Hag can impose his structure and style, the easier for Martínez it will become.”