Jamie just two good VARD WORK PAYS OFF

BRENDAN RODGERS says Premier League defenders are now facing double the trouble when Jamie Vardy is about.

Leicester’s boss says the Foxes’ striker is playing the best football of his career and is such a handful he is doing the work of two players.

It is four years this week since Vardy, who is 33 in the new year, set a Premier League record netting 11 goals in successive matches.

He has managed to find the net in Leicester’s last five outings, including a hat-trick during the 9-0 drubbing of Southampton.

Vardy’s contribution was highlighted on Match Of The Day last week and his boss compared him to Barcelona star Luis Suarez, who Rodgers managed at Liverpool.

The former Reds’ chief said: “Jamie is now playing consistently at a very high level. For me, it’s like having two players up there because of his work and his threat. People sometimes ask me why I don’t play two strikers.

“Well, when you have the likes of him and Luis Suarez, who I had at Liverpool, it’s like having two. They are so good and offer such a threat. I mention Luis because he played as a single striker for me as well, they are so good they can occupy defenders on their own. “Look at his speed breaking away. It’s a huge testament to him, how he’s looking after his body. How he prepares, he never misses a day’s training.

“He’s probably more sensible than before. He’s so dangerous and you’ve seen his intelligence as well. “He’s getting better in how he’s setting up the game. Last week at Brighton he’s gone through, drawn the keeper then squared it. It wasn’t on for him but he’s setting up team-mates. He’s thinking all the time.” At the start of the season the statistics of the ex-England striker were as high as they were 12 months ago and Rodgers thinks ending his international career is having a positive effect on his club form.

He added: “Most players do get better because of experience but the most remarkable thing about Jamie is that he’s quicker.

“He feels great and feels good in his game. His aggressive game suits him and his tactical ideas allow him to conserve his energy.

“When Jamie presses, the team go behind him and he has the quality of his finishing and his movement too.

“He’s now much fresher not travelling.

“During international breaks he has got a bit of recovery time. Physically and mentally. There’s no doubt at his age it will help.”

The striker makes full use of a cryotherapy chamber at the club’s training complex and there are rumours he has one at home too.

Rodgers said: “Two big things in the modern game are the science and psychology. A lot of players at the top level are very professional – they are like sports scientists now.

“They understand their bodies and know their recovery strategies.

“And when you get to Jamie’s age, recovery is critical.”