Pog aim is return for derby
Vardy racing to 100-goal mark
JAMIE VARDY is closing in on a century of Premier League goals after moving top of this season’s scoring charts.
And both Vardy, who has 90 top-flight strikes, and Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers are confident his scoring feats won’t dry up.
Vardy became the first player to reach double figures this term with his late finish in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
It leaves Rodgers’ men riding high in third ahead of Saturday’s visit by Arsenal, who tried to sign Vardy after the Foxes’ stunning 2016 title triumph.
And his stock remains high as he was yesterday named PFA Fans’ Player of the Month for October.
The striker polled 40 per cent of the votes to see off Wolves’ Adama Traore, Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, Manchester City’s David Silva and Foxes team-mate Ricardo Pereira.
And he expects plenty more chances to add to his tally with the likes of Youri Tielemans, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez playing behind him, who have an average age of less than 23.
Vardy said: “The creativity and attacking talent we have got is unbelievable.
“If it is not Youri setting you up, it is probably Maddison or
Barnes or Ayoze. The attacking threat we have got is great and it can only benefit us as a squad when they are all so young.”
Vardy turns 33 in January but Rodgers revealed recently that his speed stats during pre-season showed he is quicker than ever.
His goal at Selhurst Park was his fifth in three outings after also scoring against Burnley and Southampton, where he smashed a hat-trick. It leaves the former England hitman on course to better his haul of 24 in the title-winning campaign.
He needs just 10 more goals to reach triple figures in the Premier League, remarkable consistency for a player whose first taste of the top flight only came in 2014.
Vardy added: “I am delighted to be there but there is still a long way to go and a lot of games to play. I will be getting back on the training field and working on my finishing again.”
His return to prominence has coincided with Rodgers’ arrival in February in succession to Claude Puel, with whom the forward clashed over tactics.
The Frenchman’s style of a slow build up of possession play failed to exploit Vardy’s best attributes – getting in behind defences and using his pace and movement.
And Rodgers explained how he is getting the best out of him once more.
The Northern Irishman said: “He’s playing more central.
“The other guys, it’s their job to create the opportunities.
“I’ve asked him to stay on the last line. From a defensive perspective, he’s not having to press the whole back four.
“He’ll do that all day for you if you asked him, but it’s now much more synchronised, shorter bursts of pressing.” PAUL POGBA has set his sights on making his comeback in the Manchester derby at the Etihad in just over a month’s time.
The Manchester United star has missed the last seven games with an ankle problem.
He has had surgery and is expected to remain in plaster for the rest of this week before starting rehabilitation.
But there is a chance Pogba will be fit for the showdown with City on December 7.
There is even a slight chance he could be available for the visit of Spurs to Old Trafford three days earlier.
The France star has expressed his frustration at being left stuck on the sidelines as United look to rescue what has been a poor start to the season.
He said: “It is not easy to see my teammates go to training or on the field. It is the worst thing.
“You train inside, you want to return to help your team but when you are injured it is not easy. But the most important thing is to heal properly.”
United have rejected a £13m bid from Roma for defender Chris Smalling, who is on loan at the Italian club for the season.
They want closer to £17.5m, knowing that both Milan clubs are interested in signing the former England star.