Paul Scholes claims Man Utd star will be 'targeted' by Man City

Paul Scholes is concerned for Lisandro Martinez ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford (The Good, The Bad and The Football)

Paul Scholes believes Erling Haaland will target Lisandro Martinez during Manchester United ’s Premier League match against Manchester City on Saturday.

Michael Carrick is set for a tough test in his first game as United’s interim head coach as his side host City at Old Trafford in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

For the derby against City, Carrick is expected to stick with a back four which Darren Fletcher used in the 2-2 draw with Burnley, as well as in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday .

Martinez started in both of those matches but Scholes is concerned that Haaland, who has already scored 20 goals in the Premier League this season, will dominate the Argentine World Cup winner.

‘I actually always fancied us over the last few years when we used to play counter-attack against them, with Rashford up front and the speed, I don’t think we’ve got that now,’ Nicky Butt said on The Good, The Bad and The Football.

Lisandro Martinez could face Erling Haaland once again in the Manchester derby this weekend (Getty)

‘I don’t think we’ve got the pace up there now to play counter-attack.’

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Haaland’s threat was then raised during the conversation, with Scholes asking: ‘Who have we got to stop him?’

Butt replied: ‘Do you reckon they’ll throw Harry [Maguire] straight in? They’re going to have to, aren’t they? But if Haaland goes against Martinez…’

Scholes said: ‘There’s every chance he [Haaland] will target him [Martinez], of course he will.’

Butt added: ‘To be fair, no one can handle him [Haaland]. He’s that good, that powerful, he’s just ridiculous.’