Docs will get final Vardy say
JAMIE VARDY has been told Leicester’s medical team will have the final word on whether he starts today – not him.
Foxes boss Claude Puel and star striker Vardy have endured a strained relationship this season.
The hitman was unhappy to be dropped for the visit of West Ham in October after illness.
And his wife, former ‘I’m a Celebrity’ contestant Rebekah Vardy, ‘liked’ three Tweets criticising Puel, including: “Genuinely waste of time him playing under Puel.”
Leicester’s top scorer and talisman was restored to the starting line-up at Cardiff.
But he has since missed the draw with Fulham and a defeat to Tottenham after coming off against Watford with a groin injury.
Vardy, 31 – who has five goals this season – was seen sprinting in front of the cameras in his return to training on Thursday ahead of today’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Puel said: “I am confident he can give his best for the team.
“I don’t know if it will be at the beginning of the game or in the second half.
Quality
“But I have confidence in my medical staff – we have fantastic staff at Leicester.
“There is a lot of competence, quality and good work to make a judgement about the injury and to work for a good recovery and progress to come back on the pitch.”
Leicester were embarrassed twice by struggling Palace last season.
The Foxes slumped to a 3-0 defeat at home and then were thumped 5-0 at Selhurst Park.
Puel said: “It was a bad game, it was not a good memory. We don’t like this – the players, the staff or the directors.
“We cannot accept this so we need the right response and a positive attitude to give our best on the pitch and for us to correct the situation.
“But it is another season, another game, it will not be revenge for us.
“It is crucial to keep the right concentration about this game and our play because we need to grow up and to move on.
“There was a lot of frustration and disappointment. But I want to correct the situation to get points and for us to try to keep a position in the first half of the table.
“This is the most important thing, not to take revenge over the last result against the same team.”