Up four it MILNE’S VARDY TARGET

GOAL machine J a mie Vardy has been labelled a “manager’s dream” and would be wise to end his fairy tale career at Leicester City when the time comes. That’s the verdict of f ormer Foxes manager Gordon Milne, who took charge of fellow Leicester goal-scoring legends Gary Lineker and Alan Smith in the 1980s.

Vardy, 34 next month, will be on duty in tonight’s Premier League clash against Brighton, who have won just once in their last nine league matches, as Leicester look to cement a spot in the top four.

Milne (right) sees a few similarities with Leicester-born Lineker, who went on to play for them for seven years until moving to Everton and then Barcelona.

The major difference is Vardy’s late development as a top-flight success story having left non-league

Fleetwood at the age of 25 – Lineker had played for his country by then.

“It’s hard to compare because the game has changed so much but there are some similarities between Jamie and Gary,” Milne told the Daily

Star Sunday.

“The main one is that, unlike many strikers, they both like to face the opposition goal and back themselves in a one-on-one against any defender around.

“I could see that in Gary and, me being old-fashioned, I knew we’d be better off playing to his strengths to get the best out of him.

“He also fed off Alan Smith well and they were a great combination.

“Jamie is different in that he is often on his own up front and I wonder how much more they would have got out of him if he had a partner to feed off in attack.

“But Vardy has still had such a great career since coming through the hard way from non-league and would be a great example to any player in the lower leagues at what can be achieved. “He would have to be a manager’s dream. You never hear about him moaning about wages or not being happy or anything like that.

“Even when Leicester won the league he saw his team-mates like N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez eventually move away for big money and yet he was happy to stay where he was.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs were after Jamie then but he recognised he’s happy and settled at Leicester.

“I think he should look to finish his career at the club.

“They are now in that group of teams who can realistically target the top four every season.”