Even at 33, no one can hold a candle to Jamie says Foxes boss Rodgers
vKing Power Stadium, 3pm
BRENDAN RODGERS says birthday boy Jamie Vardy is a “colossal” striker who will continue to get even better despite turning 33 today.
But Rodgers has dampened hopes that Leicester’s prolific striker could be tempted out of England retirement following Harry Kane’s injury.
England skipper Kane is out until April with a hamstring injury and will miss friendlies in March against Italy and Denmark ahead of Euro 2020.
It has fuelled suggestions that Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate should turn to Vardy, the Premier League’s leading scorer with 17 goals this term, who retired from England duty after the 2018 World Cup.
Leicester boss Rodgers (with Vardy, right) said: “Jamie has always been clear and I don’t see that changing. Retiring from England has given him a chance to refresh, and spend some time with his family.
“The question is not whether he can play for England. He can, there is no question. It is whether he wants to.
“I had initial chats with Jamie about it when I came in but I am not worrying about it or encouraging it.”
Vardy will be looking to mark his birthday with more heroics. He scored a hat-trick against Saints in October in Leicester’s record-equalling 9-0 win. Another treble today would give Vardy a ton of Premier League goals – he’s currently on 97.
Rodgers said: “Jamie is such a threat, it would be a nice way for him to celebrate.
“But if anyone is thinking because we won 9-0 away that we could win 10-0 at home, then it doesn’t quite work like that.”
Despite Vardy’s advancing years, Rodgers reckons the former non-League striker is still developing after only making his topflight debut aged 27.
“He is a colossal player. His game is mostly breaking the line and running in behind which is exactly what we want but the other night (against Villa in the Carabao Cup) he was coming deeper to set the game up with intelligence. He was coming off an angle, spinning and taking defenders out. He is developing his game all the time.
“He is really mixing his game between threatening the back line and bringing defenders further back to open up space in front of them.”