Jamie Vardy equals Ruud van Nistlerooy record - but how does he compare to Leicester legend Gary Lineker?

Vardy has scored in 10 consectuive Premier League matches, but can he rival Lineker as Leicester's greatest ever striker?

Jamie Vardy scored in his tenth consecutive Premier League outing for Leicester (Getty Images)

Jamie Vardy equalled former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistlerooy’s Premier League record of scoring in 10 consecutive games when he found the back of the net in Leicester’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle, prompting comparisons to the club’s greatest ever striker.

While Vardy still has a long way to go before he can dream of emulating former England captain Gary Lineker, his rise through the tiers of English football has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Vardy is currently the leading goalscorer in the Premier League, with his 13 striker four more than his nearest competitor Romelu Lukaku of Everton. His goals have helped fire Leicester to the top of the Premier League, an incredible feat given they were tipped for relegation when former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri took over in the summer.

But with Leicester flying high and seeming well clear of the relegation battle they were predicted to be in, fans are being afforded the privilege of comparing the 28-year-old forward with Lineker in a throwback to their past glory years.

Lineker was quick to celebrate Vardy's achievement, the former footballer taking to Twitter in a state of delirium to praise the striker's achievement.

So how do they shape up?

Lineker started out at Leicester City having come through their academy ranks, making his first team debut in 1978 and going on to enjoy a seven-year spell with the East Midlands club before moving on to Everton.

Gary Lineker scored 95 league goals in his 194 league appearances for Leicester (Getty Images)

In that time, Lineker made 194 league appearances, with 95 goals giving him a strike-rate of one goal in just over every two games. Lineker’s record in the old First Division stood at a goal every 1.8 matches, with his prowess in front of goal catching the eye of the Toffees before Barcelona and Tottenham came calling later in his career.

To compare that to Vardy, the current international striker has scored 38 times in 110 league games, although his Premier League record is 18 goals in 47 appearances since the Foxes were promoted in 2014. Overall Vardy’s league strike-rate for Leicester is one goal every 2.89 matches, while his Premier League record stands a little better at a goal every 2.6 matches.

So Lineker leads the way when it comes to domestic football, but on the international stage the battle isn’t even close…yet. Vardy is yet to break his England duck in his four appearances for the Three Lions this year, while Lineker stands as the third-most prolific striker in England history having scored 48 goals in his 80 international caps, behind only Sir Bobby Charlton and top scorer Wayne Rooney.