VARDY IS ‘PERFECT’ EXAMPLE FOR IVAN

BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank insists Ivan Toney has only to look at Jamie Vardy to see how far talent and belief can take you.

The Bees host Leicester tomorrow having made the entire Premier League sit up and take notice with a series of impressive displays since reaching the big time.

Striker Toney (top), now banging on the England door, started his football life at Northampton and as recently as three years ago was on loan at Scunthorpe.

But former Three Lions forward Vardy (right) had a bigger fairytale rise, having fought his way up from non-league. Frank said: “Jamie Vardy can be a perfect example for Ivan Toney given his career and path to the top.

“There are a lot of players who perhaps have not made it yet, but who believe that with hard work and determination they can do it. And for them Jamie is a fantastic role model.

“Ivan is a very good player who arrives in good positions. He has terrific link-up play and a great determination to improve.”

The Dane revealed how he keeps his life in perspective after witnessing the torment Steve Bruce endured at Newcastle.

Frank, a qualified teacher, revealed if it ever got too much he could go back to his first love.

“When you see what happened to Steve, you ask yourself if it’s really worth it. I am privileged and love working in football and with people, but there are highs and lows. It is a tough job and if you really want to achieve something special then it demands hard work.

“It does affect all of us, it is about how much and how you manage to deal with it.

“But if at any point I don’t want to do this any more, I can go and become a schoolteacher – an even more important job.

“For me it is all about remembering what are the important things in life.

“I’m sure a coach [Arrigo Sacchi] once said: ‘Football is the most important of all the least important things in life.’

“It is important and means so much to so many people but there are things in life that are much more important.”