Paul Scholes believes Phil Jones does not have the footballing intelligence to be a top-class centre-back.
Scholes, who played with Jones in the final years of his Manchester United career, feels that the 23-year-old is more suited to right-back.
The versatile Jones, who has also played in midfield, has been used exclusively as a centre-back by United manager Louis van Gaal but won his 16th England cap on the right of defence against Ireland in Sunday's 0-0 draw.
But Scholes, who played 66 times for England and 718 games for United, said Jones represents too much of a risk in the centre of defence against strikers with fine movement.
"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.
"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, though, has said he is unworried by Scholes' comments and is just focusing on his strengths.
"People comment all the time about individuals," Jones told reporters. "Gone are the days when I used to take notice of what people say and react to it. It doesn't bother me one little bit anymore.
"I am at the stage now where I can't be considered as a young player anymore. I have got to step up, keep playing well and do what I do best."
Jones has played as a centre-back, a right-back and a defensive midfielder during his career but United manager Louis van Gaal has preferred to only select him in the middle of the defence.
England manager Roy Hodgson has picked Jones in three positions in his last three internationals and chose him in the centre of midfield for March's 1-1 draw against Italy.
Jones acknowledged that he does not pass the ball like some of the specialists in the position.
"I was no [Andrea] Pirlo or something like that, do you know what I mean? I could have told you that before the game," Jones added.
"I can laugh about it now but I try and do the job as best I can. I know I'm not an out-and-out midfielder who is going to get on the ball and start spraying it about. I know what I am good at and I try and stick to that.
"I have played in all three [positions] now and sometimes it can be difficult going from one position to the next but I feel more comfortable at right-back.
"Obviously centre-back is where I want to be playing but I was happy to play at right-back [against Ireland]. You just take it on the chin and play where you are asked to play.
"I know I can play in those positions. Some people think it is easy to just slot in there and everyone assumes that you have got to be up to speed straight away. But I was happy to play and it was a tough game."