Jamie Vardy and Claudio Ranieri will be hoping that Leicester can continue their strong season against Bournemouth
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has enjoyed a successful but gruelling season under manager Claudio Ranieri. The England international has risen to prominence for his goalscoring exploits leading the Foxes to second in the Premier League table, but he’s often had ailments in many of his games that require he eventually be rested. Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy is 3/1 to be the Premier League top goalscorer this season, but being overplayed may see him sidelined if not correctly protected.
Most recently, he played through a virus, and has featured with a broken wrist and ankle injury this season. Ranieri revealed he was going to give the in-form forward time to recoup, but conceded that Leicester will suffer without him leading the line. Vardy has scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season, while their next natural striker has a paltry three goals.
Vardy could suffer burnout
“Yes, when I think it’s the right moment to give him a rest I’ll give it to him. At the moment he doesn’t need one yet. Now it’s important to carry on with him. Jamie had a little problem for one or two months and of course he didn’t train every day. The last days he’s had a fever and he’s not 100 per cent,” said Ranieri.
The best time to rest Jamie Vardy will certainly be this month as Leicester have three fixtures they’d expected to pick up a result in without needed their strongest eleven. Leicester City host newly-promoted Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and have the likes of Aston Villa and Stoke City to come later this month after they travel to face Tottenham in eleven days.
Tough run of games to come next month
Leicester have a gruelling fixture list in February, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal their opponents next month in that order so they will need a fully fit Vardy to give them a chance of picking up points. As a result, Ranieri might pick his time to rest his key striker this month, and will be hoping his replacement can make the most of the opportunity to keep Leicester’s winning ways going.
Currently level on points with first-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table, Leicester City are in an unprecedented position at the mid-point of the season, and are starting to believe they could end the campaign with domestic honours if they can maintain their form. Vardy will be essential to their title challenge, but his fitness level need to be monitored so he’s not risking a lengthy layout by being overplayed.
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