Watford boss Quique Flores sends Jamie Vardy message to Roy Hodgson



Riyad Mahrez gave Vardy the ball to take the penalty and extend his run

LEICESTER and even Watford manager Quique Flores have joined calls for Roy Hodgson to make "world class" Jamie Vardy his main man for England.

 

Vardy, 28, will link up with Hodgson's squad this week as the first Englishman to score in nine straight Premier League games after Leicester made the most of a Heurelho Gomes horror show.

After making it 2-0 with a penalty, Vardy is now piling pressure on Hodgson to use him as a central striker, despite the manager having already told the player he is in no position to demand where he plays.

"But that is where he's at his most dangerous," said midfielder Danny Drinkwater. "His biggest threat is when he plays down the middle - but there might be times when he needs to bite his tongue.

 

"If out wide is where the manager for England wants him to play he's going to have to deal with it. But he's most dangerous when he's up front."

Flores was equally effusive: "We have played 12 Premier League matches and he [Vardy] is the best striker we have played against," he said.

"He is very difficult - almost impossible - to stop. He can also do that at international level for sure. He is one of the very best players in England right now."

 

The Premier League's top scorer has been told he is not top of the England pecking order

A goal for Vardy at Newcastle next time out will equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's Premier League record of 10 successive matches on the scoresheet.

Gomes committed a howler by fumbling N'Golo Kante's weak shot into the net to help Leicester to joint top of the table on Saturday night.

There was no sting in the Hornets' tale despite Troy Deeney reducing the arrears from the penalty spot.

 

Vardy gave Leicester a scare when he went down clutching his groin following an awkward fall.

But he carried on and his big moment arrived in the 66th minute as he raced clear and was chopped down rashly by Gomes - who was lucky to escape a red card - before scoring the penalty.

"I would like to apologise to the club, the fans and the players who were amazing during the game," said Gomes.