Vardy Fitness A Close Call

- Vardy scored the opening goal in a 3-0 Barclays Premier League win at St. James’ Park 

- The goal was the 10th consecutive game in which the striker had scored, which equalled Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s Premier League record 

- Vardy says he sent his shot to the near post to try to fool the goalkeeper for the goal 

Despite stealing the show with a record equalling goal against Newcastle United at the weekend, Jamie Vardy admitted that it was only the hard work of Leicester City’s medical staff that got him fit for the match. 

The footballing world was left guessing as to the striker’s fitness after he sat out England’s games against Spain and France with a knock, but he shrugged off those concerns to play a key role in City’s 3-0 win at St. James’ Park. 

Vardy had the added pressure of trying to score in his 10th consecutive Premier League game heading into the match – a feat previously only achieved by Ruud Van Nistelrooy – but he rose to the challenge in style. 

In first half stoppage time he exchanged passes with Leonardo Ulloa before finding the bottom corner with a fine low effort from the left side of the box, but he was quick to pay tribute to the hard work of the medical staff for getting him into the condition to play. 

Talking about how close he was to missing the game he told : “Very close. I’m not going to lie. Credit to the physios this week, especially Dave Rennie, they’ve been working on me constantly. 

“Obviously the cryotherapy chamber that we’ve got at the training ground has come in useful and I’ve got to give all the credit to Dave. 

“It’s a brilliant feeling [to score] but the main thing is to come back home with the three points. We’ve kept a clean sheet as well so Mr. Ranieri might be getting the pizzas in again! 

“You try to put it (records) in the back of your mind. You just get on with it and obviously at the end of the day it’s a game of football that Leicester needed to win. We’ve done that and I’ve managed to get my goal as well. That’s happy days but the main thing is coming away with the three points.” 

While the goal itself seemed to happen in a flash, Vardy later revealed that there was far more to it than met the eye. 

He added: “As soon as Leo put me through there was only one defender to beat so I’ve just knocked it to the side of him and I’ve gone near post because nine times out of 10 the ‘keeper will think that you’ll try to bend it into the far stick. 

“Luckily it’s gone in and given us the lead and then we’ve built on it in the second half.”