Graeme Souness admits Manchester United star has proven him wrong this season

Graeme Souness has U-turned on Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.

The departing Sky Sports pundit was one of several to question Erik ten Hag's decision to spend a sizable fee on the Ajax centre-back - after he struggled in early outings against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Martinez, however, quickly adjusted to life in England and started to show the Premier League why Ten Hag was so keen to secure his services. The centre-back went on to win the World Cup with Argentina over the winter - and his presence in United's back line has been missed in the eyes of Souness.

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When picking his combined XI for the Daily Mail, Souness wrote: 'United are the ones who have to keep their nerve in these all-important two weeks. I ascribe some of their fall-off in form to the absence of Lisandro Martinez. They've have won only three of their six league matches since he was injured at Sevilla.

'I thought Martinez would get found out in the Premier League because of his physique. I still believe that will be an issue for him going forward – but he is one who leads from the front for United and has a big influence on those around him.

'He is one of the four United players who do make my composite team, along with Casemiro, who also has that winning mentality, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes. But Liverpool players dominate my XI.'

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