Back to the Manchester United Newsfeed

Marcus Rashford set to miss out on Sports Personality of the Year shortlist despite public support for Manchester United star's free school meals campaign as BBC are left with a headache

Marcus Rashford is set to be omitted from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist despite being the bookies' odds-on favourite to win the award.

The Manchester United forward has been tipped to claim the prize in December following his high-profile and popular free school meals campaign.

But Sportsmail understands Rashford, 22, is likely to miss out based on long-standing criteria for the award which state that the shortlist must reflect 'sporting achievements'.

Marcus Rashford is set to miss out on the 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist
The Man United star was odds-on favourite due to his campaigning for free school meals

A judging panel will meet next month to decide the shortlist and, while the criteria for 2020 has not yet been confirmed and the panel have the right to make alterations, it has been set in stone for several years.