Date with destiny awaits reanimated Vardy

LONDON: When Jamie Vardy pictured himself making history in the Champions League, the record he set in Leicester City’s loss to At letico Madrid was probably not what he had in mind.

The England striker came off during last week’s quarter- final first leg at the Vicente Calderon having completed none of his two attempted passes, in what is thought to have been a Champions League first.

Leicester’s 1- 0 defeat lef t Atletico in charge of the tie ahead of Tuesday’s return leg, but with Vardy now back among the goals, his team- mates hope more memorable milestones are ahead.

“Strikers go through it. I don’t know why some people panic, because he is not going to score every game,” said Leicester rightback Danny Simpson of Vardy’s early- season struggles.

“He is still the same player, it had just not been happening. But in training nothing changes with him, his attitude and his confidence. He still believes in himself.”

Having scored 24 goals last season in Leicester’s 5,000- 1 Premier League title win, Vardy found the net only five times in the first 22 games of the current campaign as his side slithered down the table.

But since Claudio Ranieri’s dismissal as manager, he has been a man reborn, taking his tally to six goals in seven league games with a sharply taken effort in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

While Vardy’s goals have helped Leicester move clear of danger, the team’s return to form under new manager Craig Shakespeare has not been to everyone’s liking. — AFP