RANIERI TELLS VARDY: IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE GOALS

CLAUDIO RANIERI has backed Jamie Vardy to find the net soon but insisted the England striker contributes to Leicester even when he is not scoring. Vardy will line up against Crystal Palace today looking to end a run of eight barren appearances, almost a year to the day since scoring against the same opposition for a seventh consecutive Premier League game. Vardy went on to break Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record by netting for 11 matches in a row but comes into this game without a goal since visiting Liverpool on September 10. Ranieri predicts that will change soon and has told the 29-year-old, but he added that Vardy’s pressing from the front also makes him invaluable. ‘This is the life of a goalscorer. It’s important he continues to fight,’ said the Leicester manager. ‘His attitude is always the same. He’s always determined. He is very close to scoring. I said to him before the last match, “It’s not important if you score, I know the goalscorer wants to score”. Without a goal they feel they’re no good, but that’s not true. Now the football means everybody must fight, run and be part of the team. A long time ago, the scorer had to score. Now, everybody must work. Jamie works very hard for the team.’ Vardy has been required to adjust to a new strike partner in Islam Slimani, having forged a productive relationship with Shinji Okazaki last season, but he made an impact against Copenhagen on Tuesday by providing the cross that led to Riyad Mahrez’s goal. Ranieri added: ‘He had a very good match on Tuesday. He made a fantastic cross for Slimani.’ Leicester have taken only eight points from eight games but have not lost at home in 19 Premier League matches.