Should Jamie Vardy be starting for England?

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been in top form this season, but is still struggling to get a start for England

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has enjoyed an unbelievable, Roy of the Rovers rise from non-league football to playing for England in just a few years.

His story is now a familiar one to anybody who pays attention to the English top-flight football.

Vardy and his team Leicester’s sensational campaign has taken many by surprise this season, but the striker has got there by sheer hard-work and never giving up on himself.

Should just be looked at for his ability and not just history

Vardy was no doubt a latecomer to the professional scene, but at 29 years-old he is at the peak of his powers. Only England international teammate Harry Kane has scored more Premier League goals than Vardy’s 19 this season.

He has been simply superb for the Foxes and a big reason why the Foxes are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table. If Vardy was a product of an academy of one of the big top-flight clubs he would maybe have enjoyed more opportunities for the national side.

Maybe Roy Hodgson would have selected him more for the national team if he was plying his trade at a club with a bigger profile, but Vardy has made it impossible for the England boss to ignore him any longer.

Making use of Vardy’s attributes

Jamie Vardy is a clever footballer and that is why he is where he is today. People will say that his main attributes are his pace and his sheer energy, that means absolutely nothing without talent and the Leicester striker has it in abundance, as he proved with his cheeky equaliser against Germany.

Vardy is a menace to defences and will not let them have a minute’s peace on that football pitch. He will chase lost causes and will gain opportunities than other less willing players would not. His unselfishness shows in the fact that he has produced eight assists for Leicester this season.

He never seems to tire during games and that is one of his best attributes, his stamina. However in his limited appearances for England Roy Hodgson has used him as an impact substitute, which worked a charm against Germany.

The forward was sent on to run at tired minds of bodies of the German defenders and cause trouble with his pace. The result was his first international goal and nearly an assist for midfielder Dele Alli, who missed a gilt-edged opportunity.

Maybe his use as an impact substitute is not a terrible idea. He will cause tired defences problems with his pace and never-say-die attitude, but he can do that by starting games as well.

Time for a more adventurous formation Roy?

England host the Netherlands in a friendly international on Tuesday night that the Three Lions are very much favourites to win at odds of 8/11.

Vardy is likely to begin the clash on the bench, unless Roy Hodgson opts to field the formation that the Three Lions ended up fielding against Germany. Fielding that sort of formation from the start of a game would be very un-Hodgson like though.

The former-West Brom boss is not known for his adventure, but maybe it is time for the England boss to show some. Putting Vardy up front with Kane proved to be very fruitful. However it did not take a genius to work out that having the Premier League’s top scorers in attack would be a major threat to any defence.

Both players have been in top form this season and it seems that most England fans favour the partnership. Well why not?

England may not always get the same joy as they did on Saturday night with the adventurous style played in Berlin, but Jamie Vardy has been outstanding this season, as has Harry Kane, so neither should miss out on the starting line-up.

At the moment though it seems that despite Vardy’s form for his club side, he is still not considered a starter for his country and may never be.

Should Jamie Vardy be starting for England?