WE’RE THE FREE LIONS
No one will stop Rashford and Co from speaking out
MARCUS RASHFORD says speaking out together on social issues has turned the England team into a band of brothers.
And the Manchester United star reckons it has made the Three Lions even stronger – because they know they have each other’s backs.
Rashford wrote an emotional public letter to the Prime Minister a year ago this week which forced a Government U-turn over free school meals.
And his England team-mates have stepped up too, taking a knee together before matches to highlight racial injustice.
Rashford said: “I’m proud of the fact we’re all doing it together. I think that’s important. In a team you want to be on a journey together.
“Whether it’s all of us speaking out or it’s just standing by your mate if he needs support, it all goes hand in hand with togetherness and being a better team. I’m proud of the collective and the individuals.
“It’s our dream to play in an England shirt and we’re just trying to do our best along the way.”
Rashford became a national hero with his outspoken work on free school meals and child poverty.
But the 23-year-old claims he’s always tried to lead from the front.
“You grow up with that inside you,” he said. “My brother always said to me when I was younger that because I played up front, it’s important to lead from the front, by example. I’ve been doing it my whole life.
“With the letter it was important to open it up to the public. The issue we were trying to tackle was so big, I had to get more people on board and take it step by step.”
Since he wrote to Boris Johnson, Rashford has been awarded an MBE and met with former US president Barack Obama.
But he laughed off talk he might ever fancy becoming PM one day, saying: “I can probably rule that out because it’s not something I grew up wanting to do.”
After coming off the bench in the win over Croatia, Rashford is pushing to start against Scotland tomorrow – against United team-mate and boyhood pal Scott Mctominay (inset).
The pair could even have been lining up together if Mctominay, who was born in England, hadn’t turned his back on the Three Lions to represent the Auld Enemy.
Asked if that would have been even more special, Rashford said: “Yeah, definitely! We’ve grown up with each other.
“It’s going to be a bit strange playing against each other but I’m just really proud for him.
“He’s done what he’s done for United, but he also has other dreams to represent his country in the biggest competitions. I’m really proud he’s doing that.”