‘Scholes criticism will help misfiring Martial’ – Ranieri

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has claimed that out-of-form Manchester United striker Anthony Martial will improve as a result of recent criticism from Paul Scholes.

The Frenchman, 19, drew another blank in the Red Devils’ 0-0 Champions League draw with PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford on Wednesday to make it six games without a goal.

Scholes intimated that Martial – a £36m deadline-day signing from AS Monaco in September – is not ready to be United’s leading man, but Ranieri, who signed him for the French club in 2013, feels that he will blossom.

“It is right to make criticism – and Scholes made the right criticism – but it will improve his mind,” the Leicester City boss is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“His character is very strong, he is young but strong. It is important that he is also intelligent and then he can improve.” Ranieri will come up against his former protege when United visit the King Power on Saturday.