Foxes ace will fire
JAMIE VARDY is being backed to rediscover the goal trail after his misery under Claude Puel.
Leicester coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler are in charge for tonight’s game at home to Brighton after Puel was sacked following six defeats in seven games.
Vardy and Puel were at odds, with the Foxes’ title-winning talisman admitting the Frenchman’s possession-based tactics didn’t suit him.
It even saw the ex-England hitman, who smashed 24 goals when they won the title in 2016, refer to Puel as a “f ***** g k***head” after the loss to Manchester United.
He has scored just eight this term, with Puel dropping Vardy for the trip to Tottenham earlier this month after his outburst.
But Stowell expects Vardy to be revitalised after admitting the striker has struggled under Puel.
Stowell, who has been a coach at Leicester for 14 years, said: “It has been a change of style a little bit for Jamie.
“Maybe we haven’t fed him enough and given him the right service. Jamie is desperate to do well for this football club.
“I would back him to score all day long and back him to get into those positions as well.
“He hasn’t been making those type of runs so much because of the style we play.
“Teams are coming to the King Power and defending deep and not giving us space in behind.
“But we have given them a game plan and hopefully we execute it.”
Ex-Southampton boss Puel was dismissed Sunday morning after the 4-1 home loss to Crystal Palace.
It left Puel’s position untenable, with growing unrest at his reign from the stands and dressing room, including keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Stowell added: “Kasper is a leader and a voice at the club. He is concerned about the form and cares for the club.”
Brendan Rodgers and Rafa Benitez are the main contenders for the permanent job, with an interim appointment possible until the summer. Critics felt softlyspoken Puel lacked charisma and dynamism and training yesterday was said to be noticeably happier.
Stowell also admitted he would have acted differently after Puel fielded weakened sides which lost in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals to Manchester City and at League Two Newport in the FA Cup.
He added: “He was the manager and he picked the team.
“We have always wanted a cup run, we want a trophy. It was a missed opportunity.”