VARDY ANNUAL

Gerrard: He can play for years

STEVEN GERRARD urged Jamie Vardy to keep his Premier League dream alive – after admitting he called time on his Liverpool career too soon.

Aston Villa’s boss said his side will have to guard against the veteran forward who remains one of the deadliest in the top flight.

Vardy, who turns 35 next month, remains second in the scoring stakes – only Mo Salah is ahead of him – with nine goals this season.

And Gerrard believes the ex-nonleague ace should play as long as he can and used his own experience as a player at Anfield as an example why he should keep going.

Shape

He said: “I don’t see any reason why Jamie will want to call it a day. The evidence suggests he’s in good shape and still producing at this level.

“For any player, the advice I would give is for them to play as long as they can – as long as they’re feeling good and are producing. I was someone who very much missed it once I decided to stop.

“I called it a day in Los Angeles and, for me, it was a case of being away from the family.

“But the one small regret I have was not signing the year that was offered to me at Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers. I felt I was between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to stay and for the journey to continue and maybe, with hindsight, I should have signed the year’s extension.

“But at the same time I wasn’t starting as many games as I would have liked and Brendan was making it quite clear that my gametime was going to be more limited than I was used to.

“And I wasn’t as excited as I had been, being a squad player as opposed to my previous role.”

Gerrard faced Vardy (right) on the pitch towards the end of his playing days, during a 2-2 draw at Anfield on New Year’s Day six years ago, with the former midfielder netting twice from the spot.

Hunger

That was the season before the Foxes’ fairytale title-winning campaign, but Villa’s manager said he knew back then Vardy had the ammunition to make his mark.

He added: “The first time I saw him live I could see he had that burning pace. He’s still got the hunger and mentality.

He’s a big threat.”