Rodgers: Our Fox in the box will thrive on better service
BRENDAN RODGERS has urged Leicester to get better service to Jamie Vardy, after the veteran striker’s struggle to make an impact on his return from his latest injury.
Leicester’s title-winning talisman has started just three games for the Foxes in 2022 during a nightmare year so far.
The star missed the first two months after injuring a hamstring in December.
Then he hurt his knee and came off against Leeds in his first full start back in March.
Vardy, 35, returned last month but is yet to score and was unable to get many opportunities as Leicester bowed out of the Europa Conference League semi-final at Roma on Thursday in a 1-0 second-leg loss.
Ahead of today’s visit by Everton in the Premier League, boss Rodgers pointed out: “He has missed a lot of football this year.
“But he gave everything in Rome against a deep defence, especially in the second half. He is just not that sort of player who is going to drop in.
“He needs the service. Those little through balls that play him in. He didn’t quite get that.
“It was difficult for him but he gave everything right to the end. The players gave everything it was just unfortunate we couldn’t break Roma down.”
Vardy is under contract at the King Power Stadium until June 2023 and will look to add to his 10 goals in all competitions this term.
As the Foxes have progressed in Europe, Rodgers has rested key players in the Premier League to ensure they were fit for the FA Cup winner’s latest push for silverware.
But his only concern now is finishing the season strongly as 11th-placed City aim to climb the table. Leicester have finished fifth the last two seasons but now ninth place looks the best they can hope for with five games left.
Rodgers added: “We have our pride to play for now to finish as high as we can.
“We arrived into the Roma game in as best a position as we could, I wanted the squad as strong as we could and as fit as we could.
“We didn’t quite make it but we go into Sunday fit and ready and look to get back to winning again.
“We have a few weeks to finish as strong as we can. We owe it the supporters and everyone to finish as high as we can.
“And we have plenty of games over these next few weeks so let’s finish as strong as we can and take that into pre-season.”