Fight against child poverty worth the ‘agg’, says Rashford

Marcus Rashford said he knew he would become a target for political criticism yesterday as he pledged to continue holding ministers to account over child poverty.

The Manchester United striker described how “somebody in my shoes is already a target”, but that his campaign to tackle food shortages was worth the “agg”.

The 23-year-old has received an OBE and praise extending well beyond sport for his efforts forcing government about-turns on meal provisions outside school term time. However, speaking at the FT Business

of Football Summit, Rashford said that playing for United had helped him to realise he would also face criticism.

“I already understood that somebody in my shoes is already a target anyway,” he said. “There’s going to be people watching me and having opinions on me before they’ve ever spoken to me or met me in person.

“It’s part of my life, being a footballer for one of the biggest clubs in the world is going to bring that attention, whether it’s good or bad. I knew what I was stepping into. The effect it’s going to have on me, the campaign itself is much bigger than that, so I’m willing to take that bit of agg from wherever it comes from.”

Rashford has achieved two of his original demands – the provision of meals and activities to low-income families during school holidays and the expansion of the healthy start voucher scheme – but has also called for a full-scale review of the free school meals system. Describing longer-term aims, he spoke of plans to campaign for greater afterschool and activity provisions for youngsters in impoverished areas.

“I’m pleased we’ve made progress but, at the same time, still hungry and wanting to do more,” he said.

Dele Alli has moved closer to a return to the Tottenham Hotspur starting line-up as Jose Mourinho utilises his squad for the demands of challenging for the Europa League.

Mourinho will rest some players for tonight’s last-32 tie at the Puskas Arena, Budapest, against Wolfsberger after being taken to extra time by Everton in the FA Cup last week and facing Manchester City last Saturday. That puts Alli in the frame to play against the Austrian opponents on neutral ground due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The England midfielder, 24, recovered from a tendon injury to come off the bench in the last two games and could make his first start in five weeks, having stayed at Spurs during the January transfer window when it looked like he could leave for regular football.

“Last week we played two matches in a short space and I had players that ran more than 28km on Wednesday at Goodison and then Saturday at Manchester City,” Mourinho said. “More than 28km is crazy.

Of course I would like to play with all my first choices, and that of course is not possible. But the players that are playing are good players, are players that I trust, are players that the team needs.”

Alli has spoken on the Fifa Playon podcast about his frustration this season, having started only six games. “At the minute it’s not going very well for me, so I’m looking to sort that situation out and just get back to playing and get back to trying to win as much as I can,” he said.

The Europa League gives another route to the Champions League, with Spurs’ hopes hit by four defeats in five Premier League games.

“I don’t feel any pressure,” Mourinho added. “I feel big responsibility, which is completely different. It’s much better than pressure.”