Jamie Vardy believes he can carry on giving nightmares to Premier League defenders into his forties after showing his enduring class to earn Leicester a point against Tottenham.
The Foxes forward turns 38 in January but is showing no signs of slowing down, heading the equaliser early in the second half and even squandering a chance to score the winner. He had not been expected to play due to a knee injury sustained in pre-season.
Vardy’s goal was his eighth on the opening day of a top-flight campaign – only Mohamed Salah, with nine, has more.
He is the second-oldest scorer on matchday one, with only Teddy Sheringham, who scored for West Ham against Blackburn at 39 in 2006, ahead of him. Mail Sport understands Vardy intends to continue playing beyond his 40th birthday.
Jamie Vardy says he can carry on giving Premier League defenders nightmares into his forties
Jamie Vardy scored Leicester’s equaliser against Tottenham, earning Foxes a point
Although fans expected him not to feature, Vardy made himself available to play on Monday
‘I literally see age as just a number,’ said Vardy, who signed a new one-year deal last summer.
‘As long as I keep looking after myself, and as long as my legs still feel great before training and games, then then I’ll carry on for as long as physically as possible.
‘I wouldn’t say I’m doing anything differently. I’m still trying to make the same runs. But the main thing is I’m looking after myself recovery wise, to the maximum. I’ve got everything I need at home.
‘So Tuesday will be a recovery session at the training ground, and then go home and manage to double up on that.’
Vardy installed a chamber for cryotherapy – the practice of using low temperatures to promote quicker healing – in his home to help him recover more quickly.
‘I’ll get the massages, do cryotherapy in the pool, stretch and then go home. Then when I get home cryotherapy again, sauna and an hour in the oxygen tent, just to have a little hour to myself.’
Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was carried off on a stretcher in the second half after a clash of heads.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said: ‘It’s a head injury so you have to be really careful. The good news is he’s up and about and talking. We’ll let the medical team look after that.’
Foxes boss Steve Cooper added: ‘He trained once and then goes and does that. It’s great to have him back.
His inclusion in the squad gave new manager Steve Cooper a boost – and the Foxes a point
Vardy’s won major silverware with Leicester, including their shock 2015-16 League title
He also picked up the FA Cup in 2021 five years later, showing he’s still got the edge
He was central to Leicester’s Championship winning season to earn promotion back to the Premier League
‘He’s the main man here and it wasn’t sitting right with him that we were going into the game without a senior striker, so he came to see me and declared himself fit.
‘He’s not normal in terms of what he can produce. He was still at high speeds on day one of pre-season and in terms of fitness levels he was still right up there in the top category.’
