Jamie Vardy: England manager Roy Hodgson challenges striker to fire Leicester to Premier League title

The Foxes No 9 has been in phenomenal form this season

Chief Football Correspondent

Wednesday 30 March 2016 22:34 BST

Jamie Vardy impressed against the Netherlands (Getty)

Roy Hodgson has challenged Jamie Vardy to score the goals to deliver the Premier League title for Leicester City after admitting the forward has now proved his international class with England.

Vardy, 29, will face Southampton at the King Power Stadium on Sunday having scored the first two goals of his England career during last Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Germany and Tuesday’s 2-1 Wembley defeat against the Netherlands.

The former Fleetwood Town striker now appears to be vying with England captain Wayne Rooney for the chance to partner Harry Kane at Euro 2016, but after witnessing his impressive performances during the international break, Hodgson insists that Vardy has banished any doubts over his ability to score at the highest level.

“We’re happy with him,” Hodgson said. “His task first off is to fire Leicester to a Premier League win, and that will be his major goal, but as long as he can keep that form going, then I’m sure he is someone we will be looking forward to seeing in an England shirt for a long time to come.

“He’s 29, so he’s not a youngster compared to the others, but he is very, very young in terms of his top class playing career and he is a very fit guy.

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

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1/11England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Tom Heaton - goalkeeper - 0 caps

The Burnley goalkeeper has emerged as third choice goalkeeper now Jack Butland is out of the reckoning. It's incredibly unlikely he'll be called upon in France - however if England were needing to look to their third choice wouldn't a stopper who has featured for England before and been playing in the Premier League be a better choice? Ben Foster fits that bill.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Luke Shaw - left-back - 6 caps

The £30m signing is set to return to action following his broken leg just before the season is over. But the possibility of a relapse and lack of game time make the Manchester United player too big a risk.

2016 Manchester United FC

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Phil Jones - centre-back - 20 caps

With 20 caps for England, Jones has long been considered among the regular contenders. However he's been edged out at Manchester United and deserves to be edged out from the England set-up too.

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England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Calum Chambers - centre-back - 3 caps

After joining Arsenal it seemed as though Chambers might turn out to be the next Tony Adams and in late 2014 he collected his three England caps - without conceding a single goal in any of them. However, he's failed to make much progress at the Emirates since then and is out of the picture for this summer's tournament.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Glen Johnson - right-back - 54 caps

At the last major tournament - the 2014 World Cup - Johnson was a certain starter at right-back. But much has changed since then - including the emergence of Kyle Walker and Nathaniel Clyne as alternative options, plus his own move from Liverpool to Stoke. Still only 31-years-old, Johnson has been consistent at the Britannia, but has failed to catch the eye as much as his rivals.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Andros Townsend - left midfield - 10 caps

A screamer against Montenegro helped England qualify for the World Cup and his performance in the following crucial game against Poland made him a firm favourite of Hodgson's. Another wonderful goal is among the three he has scored in his 10 caps for England. But while impressing for the Three Lions, nagging doubts about his ability saw his former club Spurs willing to sell him to Newcastle.

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England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Jack Wilshere - central midfield - 28 caps

Hodgson's positive view of the Arsenal midfielder is well known - and Wilshere's ability isn't in doubt. But neither is his injury record. He hasn't played a single minute of competitive football since scoring a brace for England in June last year and the idea of him waltzing into a side filled with alternate midfield options doesn't sit right.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Michael Carrick - central midfield - 34 caps

In a parallel universe, Carrick has over 100 caps and is considered one of the great England midfielders. But in this one, despite his ability and versatility, he has just 34 because something about the Manchester United player doesn't scream 'pick me'. Right now, that shout is coming louder from Eric Dier and Danny Drinkwater who both performed well in the latest set of friendlies.

2016 Manchester United FC

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - right midfield - 24 caps

In the World Cup squad two years ago, Oxlade-Chamberlain has simply failed to progress as much as was expected. A single goal in the Premier League this season says much. With 24 caps and still only 22-years-old, his England career isn't over but there are simply better options this summer.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Theo Walcott - forward - 42 caps

In the latest set of friendlies Walcott was among the five forwards selected by Hodgson - but he looks the weakest of the bunch. And with Wayne Rooney certain to come back in when fit again, the Arsenal man will rightly be chopped. Despite an exciting start to the season, the old concerns about the 27-year-old - picking the wrong pass, panicking when in on goal, hiding for long periods - all remain.

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Andy Carroll - forward - 9 caps

Hodgson has always liked to have a 'big man' option. At Euro 2012 that was Carroll and at the 2014 World Cup it was Rickie Lambert. Unfortunately for Carroll, his consistently dodgy fitness has denied him a lengthy run in the West Ham side this season and Hodgson now has a big man in the shape of Harry Kane with much more to his game than acting as a long-ball target.

2016 Getty Images

“He is not going to be burnt out at the age of 31, 32, like some fellas who, to be fair, get into the first team at 16 and have had 14 years of it.

“Jamie, at 31, will only have had four or five years of it.”

Jamie Vardy fires England in front against the Netherlands

While Vardy’s place in the 23-man Euro 2016 squad appears secure, Hodgson has warned Arsenal winger Theo Walcott that he needs to regain his club position quickly.

“For Theo, he like quite a lot of other players, will have to try hard to get back in the Arsenal team otherwise I will not be seeing enough of him,” Hodgson said. “But we know Theo Walcott, we know what he can do and it will be a balance.”

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