Roy Hodgson sends warning to England star over central striker role

Vardy will be hoping to add to his four England caps, but he may have to play out wide

JAMIE VARDY has been warned he has no right to demand to play as a central striker for England despite his trailblazing Premier League form.

 

England coach Roy Hodgson delivered the terse appraisal as he sought to temper the debate on where the in-form Leicester forward should play if he features in the looming friendly matches with Spain and France.

Vardy has plundered 11 goals this season, finding the net in eight successive league matches to close in on Ruud van Nistelrooy's 10-game top-flight record.

He has been capped four times with his two starts coming on the side of an attacking trident, rather than through the middle, and Hodgson chose to bang the drum for England captain Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane.

"An England shirt is a very valuable commodity," said Hodgson after announcing an injury-depleted 23-man squad for the games in Alicante a week today and at Wembley on November 17.

"When you have only played two games you are in no position to go to the coach and say, 'I will play for England but only in this position'.

"It is simplistic to say he scores goals for Leicester in this position, he can do the same for England. Maybe he, maybe he can't.

"Jamie can play in any of the three front positions and at this early stage in his international career where he has only played a couple of games from the start he should be happy to be in the squad and even happier if he is playing in the team.

Vardy has scored in eight straight games for Leicester, making him England's in-form striker

"His job should definitely be trying to convince us he has the ability to play as a forward in the England team.

"He mustn't get too hung up, like some people are, that he will only be good if he plays there."

Hodgson named Tottenham's Eric Dier for the first time in a squad in which centre-back Gary Cahill is the joint second leading scorer alongside Kane on three goals. Rooney is resplendent at the summit with his record haul of 50.

Having launched Vardy's international career when he was a surprise pick, Hodgson appeared irritated by the suggestion the player could play centrally with Rooney behind him as a No10.

"Yes, he is capable of it, but are you happily dismissing Harry Kane?" said Hodgson. "You have decided Harry Kane is not to be mentioned because Vardy is the one?