JAMIE VARDY is back with a bang, netting a second half equaliser for Leicester on his return to the Premier League.
And the 37-year-old veteran did it in typical ‘Vardy style’ by guzzling Red Bull, winding up the opposition and leaving fans thoroughly entertained.
The Foxes defied the odds to pull off a surprise 1-1 draw against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs side at the King Power on Monday night.
It was Vardy’s 57th minute header that earned them a point, as the 26-time England international drifted in behind the Spurs defence and nodded the ball past Guglielmo Vicario.
Remarkably, Vardy wasn’t even supposed to play the game having taken part in just FOUR training sessions ahead of the opening clash.
The bullish bagsman was injured during pre-season and a late meeting with boss Steve Cooper convinced the 44-year-old to give him a chance after an injury to fellow striker Patson Daka.
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Cooper revealed after the clash: “If the game was yesterday or Saturday, he wouldn’t have played.”
Adding: “It wasn’t sitting right with him that we didn’t have a fit senior striker because Patson Daka is out for three months.
“He was feeling okay in his rehab, so he came to see me and declared himself fit. Go play, boy, no problem.
“For sure, he’s not normal in terms of what he can still produce at his age and the athlete he still is.
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“He’s still hitting high speeds on tests in pre-season. He’s right up there in the top category. He’s hungry and motivated.”
Vardy looked like an injured and ageing star in the opening exchanges as he and his teammates struggled to get to grips with Tottenham’s fast-paced ‘Angeball’ on their return to the top flight.
But a half-time re-fuelling did the job to allow the striker to roll back the years and remind everyone why he is a Premier League champion.
Vardy was spotted necking a can of Red Bull at the break, giving him the energy to buzz around the pitch and level the scores just 12 minutes after the start of the second-half.
His age and lack of fitness caught up with him later in the game and the superstar was ultimately hooked after 79 minutes, prompting boos from the Spurs fans in the away end.
But Vardy wasn’t going to go quietly after getting stick from the travelling support, instead he gave them a gentle reminder of his career highlights.
The experienced forward pointed at the Premier League badge on his sleeve before seemingly gesturing to the Spurs fans that he has won the competition while the north London club still search for their first Prem title.
The show didn’t end there either, with Vardy’s fan interaction sparking some understandable backlash from the Tottenham players – including Cristian Romero.
And Vardy ensured he continued the pantomime by launching an X-rated rant towards the South American as he left the pitch to be replaced by Stephy Mavididi.
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It was a vintage Vardy performance, but certainly one that was felt in the legs of the Foxes hero.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he joked: “I was as fit as a fiddle until I got to about 65 minutes if I am honest!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
