Rio Ferdinand has blasted Phil Jones this week as he believes that he has become a "waste of time" at Manchester United.
Jones, who is under contract at the club until 2023, has been plagued by injuries since he joined the club from Blackburn Rovers and has struggled to get a place in the team in recent seasons.
When Ferdinand was speaking on his podcast Vibe with Five, he said: "He's taking up a youth team player's position in that squad right now.
He's had too many injuries... I was in the same team as Phil Jones, he came from Blackburn as a young kid, everyone was saying he was going to be this great player.
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"Huge potential but injuries have absolutely annihilated his career and then confidence issues at certain times as well.
"He's never been able to fully establish himself in the team. Whether it's injuries, lack of form, lack of confidence. I think he should've gone ages ago. He should've gone before Chris Smalling went. Find a new club and play some football."
Jones has only had two Premier League appearances for the club since 2019 and has suffered with a long-term knee injury since last summer.
Despite his injuries, according to reports earlier this month, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to keep him around the club as a fifth choice centre-back behind Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.
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Ferdinand added: "He's lacked consistency throughout his career at Man United. That's a fact, for all the reasons I stated before. I am baffled at how he's still been given a new deal at the club given his past few years at the club. It just doesn't make sense to me how you get a new deal.
"I remember back in the day you'd have to do some absolute graft to get a new deal. You'd have to be putting in performances, you'd have to be a vital member of the team. Phil Jones isn't that...
"If I was in the squad with someone like that I wouldn't talk to them. They are a waste of time, why would I chat to you and give you any energy, taking that away from my other teammates who are here to play and go into battle for 90 minutes every week."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football, Manchester United, Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer