Vardy has to be fed... or he flops

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 a nightmare 2022 so far.

The star missed the first two months after injuring his hamstring against Liverpool on December 28.

Then he hurt his knee and came off against Leeds in just 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 Jose Mourinho’s Roma on Thursday in a 1-0 second-leg loss.

Ahead of today’s visit by Everton in the Premier League, boss Rodgers assessed: “Jamie has missed a lot of football. 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. He needs those little through balls that play him in.

“He didn’t quite get that. It was difficult for him but he kept fighting , running and gave everything right to the end.”

Vardy (above) is under contract at the King Power Stadium until June 2023 and will be desperate to add to his 10 Premier League goals this term – his lowest tally in seven seasons as it stands.

Leicester have finished fifth the last two seasons, but now eighth place looks the limit of their possibilities 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 through but we go into the game against Everton fit and ready and looking 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.

“That is what we will look to do starting at the weekend.

“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.”