Eric Bailly joined Manchester United from Villarreal last summer (Picture: Getty)
Eric Bailly joined Manchester United from Villarreal last summer (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand believes Eric Bailly and Phil Jones have the makings of the rock solid central defensive partnership Manchester United have lacked ever since his and Nemanja Vidic’s departures.

The former England skipper and his long-term sidekick Vidic formed the bedrock of several great United sides under Sir Alex Ferguson, but all of the Scots successors have failed to find a combination worthy of succeeding that decorated duo.

United coasted to a 2-0 win over Leicester at Old Trafford on Saturday to extend their 100% start to the new season, without conceding a goal, but Ferdinand believes both men must prove they can last the course and distance before earning too many plaudits.

Phil Jones has been in excellent early season form Picture: Getty)
Phil Jones has been in excellent early season form Picture: Getty)
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Matic formed Man Utd’s last great defensive partnership (Picture: Getty)
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Matic formed Man Utd’s last great defensive partnership (Picture: Getty)

‘They’ve not had a consistent partnership, a two in there playing at the back for a few years,’ he told BT Sport.

‘They need players that are there week in week out and you need to understand how the other one plays. You need to learn about your partner.

‘It is [a partnership that could work long-term]. We’ve seen that in the first three games. But you need to do it for 10, 20, 30 games.

‘Too often Jones has fallen down with injuries, there’s been too much chopping and changing for a real partnership to form.’

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