Is Vardy The Man To Fire England To Glory Next Summer?

Incredibly, it was barely over a year ago that man-of-the-moment Jamie Vardy made his EPL debut for then-newly promoted Leicester City. It was certainly one the remember, however, as the forward created four goals and scored another as the Foxes produced a devastating performance to beat Manchester United after being 3-1 down with half an hour left.

For a while afterwards, however, this seemed little more than a flash in the pan as Vardy followed up with a barren spell of 22 games and did not score again until a 4-3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on March 21^st. This left the Foxes bottom of the league and facing relegation, while Vardy must have considered the prospect of returning to his roots in lower and non-league football.

The rise of Vardy as England’s Premier Striker

Instead, the last nine months have been incredible for both Leicester and Vardy, wit h the former having stylishly avoided relegation and currently sitting top of the EPL after 14 matches of the new season. Vardy has also enjoyed an incredible turnaround in fortunes, having plundered 14 goals to become the leagues’ leading scorer this term and broken Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s top-flight record of scoring in 10 consecutive matches. If Vardy scores again, he will break Jimmy Dunne’s all-time record of having netted in 12 consecutive matches.

To cap an amazing journey for the man who playing non-league football with Fleetwood Town just a few years ago, Vardy has also been capped by England and is likely to represent his country at next years’ European Championship finals in France. Not only this, but he may even be in line for a starting place alongside Tottenham’s Harry Kane, especially with England captain and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney chronically struggling for form, sharpness and fitness.

Can Vardy Complete the Ultimate Career Turnaround?

Vardy, who just a few years ago was earning £30 a week at  Stocksbridge Park Steels and working as a carbon-fibre technician in a Sheffield factory, undoubtedly deserves his success. His resilience off the field reflects his work ethic on it, while his boundless energy and pace have created issues for even the league’s best defenders. These attributes make for a potent cocktail, and one that could well unsettle international defenders who are used to having time on the ball. If Vardy does become an England hero next summer, there will certainly be no single player in the history of the game who is more deserving of such adulation and respect.