VARDY DOES ALL RIGHT BY ALBRIGHTON

Championship IAN BAKER

MARC ALBRIGHTON has thanked best pal Jamie Vardy for making his dream come true on his final Leicester appearance.

The veteran winger, 34, finished his Foxes career as captain when he was handed the armband after coming on as a sub on his 313th appearance for the club.

Albrighton went on to lift the Championship trophy together with regular skippers Vardy and Ricardo Pereira (above).

The ex-Aston Villa man, who arrived at the King Power in 2014, has won the Premier League and FA Cup with the club and also scored the Foxes’ first ever Champions League goal.

And he is now considering whether to hang up his boots completely.

Albrighton said: “I’m more or less sure that was the end of my Leicester career. There is no official confirmation but to bow out in this manner is perfect.

“I’m unsure really if this will be retirement from the game.

“I do feel like there are minutes left in my legs – a couple of years maybe – but everything has to be right and fit into place. It has to be the right thing for me to do.

“Handing me the armband just goes to show the person that Vards is. He didn’t have to do that but he made it special for me.

“To captain this club is more than what I can say in words. It’s been an incredible career.”

Vardy, who hit 20 goals this term, is out of contract at the end of the season but it is understood that he is likely to stay at Leicester in the Premier League.

The Foxes are unable to officially offer new contracts until June 6 under the terms of their transfer embargo.

Albrighton said: “Jamie can still bring plenty in my opinion. I’d love to see him here next year.

“I’ve had no conversations with him about it, I’ve no idea what he is thinking.”

Blackburn avoided relegation thanks to Sammie Szmodics who netted his 26th and 27th of the season. Boss John Eustace said: “Sammie is the only one that has stood up and been clinical.”