Marcus Rashford responds to minister's Maro Itoje confusion

Footballer Marcus Rashford has responded to the education secretary apparently confusing him with England rugby player Maro Itoje.

The Evening Standard newspaper quoted Gavin Williamson as saying he had enjoyed a Zoom discussion with England and Manchester United's Rashford.

But an aide reportedly clarified that it had actually been with Itoje.

Manchester-raised Rashford called the difference in accent between him and Londoner Itoje a possible "giveaway".

Both sportsmen are high-profile campaigners on issues involving children.

Rashford has spoken out on free school meals, while Itoje, who was educated at Harrow School and plays for Saracens, advocated for poorer pupils to get better access to computers during lockdown.

A spokesperson for Rashford said the footballer's "consistent ask" had been for collaboration.

"More often than not this ask is rebuffed," the statement continued. "Maro and Marcus are two incredibly successful young black men, but there is little more they have in common."

Last year, the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock apologised for calling Rashford Daniel rather than Marcus.

"Whether it's Daniel Rashford or a Maro Itoje reference, the message remains the same," Rashford's spokesperson said. "Put our children first."

In his interview with the Evening Standard, Williamson is quoted as saying of Rashford: "We met over Zoom and he seemed incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming, but then he had to shoot off.

"I didn't want to be the one that was holding him back from his training."

But one of the education secretary's staff later clarified that he had meant Itoje rather than Rashford, according to the newspaper.

After the article was published, Labour MP Zarah Sultana responded by calling Williamson a "joke".

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said the mix-up had been "shocking and embarrassing", adding that minister had "confused two black sporting heroes".

Rashford himself gave a brief response, tweeting: "Accent could have been a giveaway."

The government has been approached for a comment.