NEAL AIMS TO MAKE DOUGH FROM JAMIE

FLEETWOOD keeper Chris Neal wants the “inspirational” Jamie Vardy to be fit for his homecoming – but claims “everyone” will be backing the League One minnows to pull off a giant-killing.

The England striker scored 34 goals to fire Town from the Conference to League Two in 2011-12 and earn a £1million move to Leicester.

But Cod Army keeper Neal (below) will win a year’s worth of pizza for keeping a clean sheet in a deal with the club’s new sponsor, Papa John’s.

The former Shrewsbury and Port Vale No.1 is braced to face the England star, who is struggling to shake off a groin strain, in the live BBC clash at Highbury Stadium.

“I hope Vardy plays,” said Neal. “You want to play against the best players you can.

“With him being an England international and scoring the kind of goals he has over the last couple of years and how well he has done from where he has come from, he is one of the best.

“Vardy has built himself up from being a non-league footballer to where he is today.

“He is definitely an inspiration to every non-league and lowerleague player. If you knuckle down and work hard, anything can happen. You just need that one break and it shows you can go from non-league player to a world-class player.”

Fleetwood’s Devante Cole, who has scored 12 goals this season, is one player who can follow Vardy’s path through the leagues and the striker was nearly sold to Sheffield United on the last deadline day.

“I think we have got a few younger players here that need that little break,” Neal said.

“Everyone wants to see the underdog do well. Hopefully that is the same in our case now.”

Fleetwood were in the seventh tier of English football a decade ago – and Vardy scored the first time they reached the third round against local rivals Blackpool in 2012.

Papa John’s are sponsoring Fleetwood on their big day by backing the underdogs with a special Jamie Vardy-inspired promotion. Order now at PapaJohns.co.uk