Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes media coverage of Anthony Martial is too soft.

The French forward has largely escaped criticism over the past few years for his unavailability and poor displays.

Martial started Man United's 3-0 home loss to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

“Sometimes I ask myself the question, when you walk away from a broadcast like Sunday thinking 'are we being too harsh?'," Neville told Sky Sports.

“But when you hear that stat that a guy has been at the club nine years - a goalscorer that cost £50m, £60m, £70m - has scored basically 89 goals in nine years and we still can't get him out the club, I don't think we are being too harsh. I don't think we're being harsh enough!.

“The failings of the football department and recruitment is just absolutely incredible. They're human beings at the end of the day and no one wants to go on the pitch, play badly and not achieve their standards. Nobody wants to be injured.

“So I accept all those factors but the reality is there is no way he should still be leading the line at Man United in any competition, even the Carabao Cup. It's just where the club is at the moment, they don't have a centre forward apart from Hojlund who I think has real promise but he needs experience alongside him."