The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Solskjaer proud of Rashford for meals campaign
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is immensely proud of Marcus Rashford’s work during lockdown, saying the Manchester United forward’s help in improving children’s lives is more important than anything he will do on the field.
Rashford helped raise £20 million to help feed vulnerable children and this week wrote an open letter to MPs urging the government to reverse its decision not to award free school meals vouchers in England outside of term time.
The England international’s impassioned and relentless work helped prompt a government U-turn, with the establishment of a £120m Covid Summer Food Fund that will benefit some 1.3 million children.
Solskjaer said: “It’s an honour to have Marcus and what he’s done during this lockdown has been unbelievable.
“He’s taken from his own experience when he was a kid. I know how much it means for the kids and we, as a club, are so proud of him.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham will hand a fitness test to Giovani Lo Celso ahead of tonight’s match against Man United.
Boss Jose Mourinho confirmed the Argentinian was struggling with an injury before the season was suspended in March but lockdown rules meant it could not be treated properly.
Lo Celso, who has been a key player under Mourinho, is due to be checked this morning.
Mourinho said: “Gio, I consider to be one of the victims of the rules and one of the victims of the protocols.
“He was in very bad conditions in the last three or four matches.
“Because of the rules, his injury is not an injury in need for surgery but needed daily treatment but that was not possible. So I’d say only in the past days he’s been training with the team. Available for tomorrow, yes I think so.”
And Norwich have announced defensive trio Grant Hanley, Christoph Zimmermann and Sam Byram will miss the remainder of the Premier League season ahead of their restart against Southampton today.
Hanley will undergo surgery on his hamstring, sidelining the club captain for 12-16 weeks, while Zimmermann (back and hamstring) and Byram (hamstring) also face long stints on the sidelines.