Give stars more love

ROY HODGSON reckons his inside knowledge of Jamie Vardy does not give him an advantage – because knowing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo does not make them any easier to stop.

The Leicester striker (below) will be the biggest threat to Crystal Palace’s hopes of edging closer to safety today.

Hodgson revealed he once considered signing him before becoming Vardy’s first England boss in May 2015.

Asked if that could help snuff out the threat he replied: “No, not really. Everyone knows who Lionel Messi is and Cristiano Ronaldo. It doesn’t stop them scoring loads of goals.

“The reason I know him is because I’ve seen him scoring in the Premier League so I wouldn’t have needed to see him up close to know that.”

Vardy first appeared on Hodgson’s radar when he went to watch him while West Brom boss. Hodgson (left) said: “He was getting good reviews at Fleetwood in the Conference. DARREN MOORE has reminded West Brom players to stop wearing flip-flops in the gym in a damning insight into slipping standards at the bottom club.

Caretaker Moore (left) has stopped the rot at the Premier League basement outfit since Alan Pardew was sacked.

Albion have drawn with

Swansea, won at Manchester

United and held Liverpool at home since

Pardew was axed after just one win in 18 League games. His short-lived controversial reign included four senior stars breaking a curfew in Barcelona where they allegedly stole a taxi.

But respected Moore has stepped up from firstteam coach to be the club’s fourth boss this term and Albion’s stars have rallied.

Moore, 44, explained: “It is setting those values and keeping to those values.

“The rules have been SPURS boss Mauricio Pochettino has urged

English fans to show their stars more love.

He warned that the treatment of players like Tottenham’s main man Harry Kane is potentially harming the Three Lions World Cup hopes.

Pochettino’s plea came after a tweet he branded “embarrassing” was posted from the official FA Cup account poking fun at his striker Kane following last week’s semi-final.

Pochettino said: “For me the most important thing here in England is try to back English players. Harry is going to compete in the World Cup and everyone wants to support the national team.

“I’m not saying people need to show more respect, only to love them more.”

CLAUDE PUEL says Leicester risk relegation next season if they axe him this summer. French coach Puel (right) has guided the Foxes from 14th to ninth since succeeding Craig Shakespeare in October. But City have won just three times in 12 games and...