Football
Danny Simpson Backs Jamie Vardy to Break into Premier League's Top 10 All-Time Goalscorers
Premier League winner Danny Simpson backs Jamie Vardy to shine this season, hoping the striker can break into the top 10 Premier League all-time goalscorers list.
Image Credits: Harry Trump/Getty Images
Premier League winner Danny Simpson has backed former teammate Jamie Vardy to do some damage in the top flight this term.
And if his good mate can have a stellar season, he’s no reason why he can’t break into the top 10 list of the Premier League’s all-time greatest goalscorers.
Vardy has bagged 137 goals in 309 Premier League appearances and is 20 goals behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in tenth place.
“I’d love him to break into that list, why not?” Simpson told SportsBoom.
“He’s chasing that, just from a personal note that would be amazing.
If it is his last year in the Premier League, well he’s a legend. Every credit to him if he can get himself on that list. What an achievement that would be.
Danny Simpson
“He’s been there and done it, that counts for a lot.
“He’s the only left remaining from when I was at the club and we won the Premier League, so good luck to him.”
Simpson and Vardy starred for Leicester City in their famous 2019-20 title-winning team.
Veteran hitman Vardy bagged 23 goals in a stellar campaign that season as the Foxes won the title for the first time as 5000-1 outsiders.
Image Credits: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
After years of loyal service at the King Power Stadium, former England international Vardy was rewarded with a new one-year contract at the end of last season.
He has scored 308 goals throughout a distinguished career across 664 appearances and finished as the Foxes’ leading scorer last season with 20 goals.
Capped 26 times by his country, Vardy is now playing in an impressive TENTH season in the Premier League.
And Simpson has no doubts the deadly 37-year-old striker, will once against produce the goods at the top level.
“I’m delighted for him and I hope that, if it is his last year at the club, he can get some more goals,” added Simpson.
“You know with him that he might not always be fit as he’s getting older, but he’s still got an eye for goal and always does well.
“He can still come on for 20 minutes and still score winners, you never lose that.
“But he’ll want to play as much as he can and I’m sure he’s going to help the club pick up loads of points this season.
“I’m so glad he stayed at the club, he definitely deserved his deal with the goals he scored last season – and for the club.
“He’s been at the club over 12 years now, he’s been an amazing servant. A proper professional.”
Leicester stormed to the Championship title last season with 97 points, collected from 31 wins from 46 games.
But the 37-year-old former defender, who announced his retirement earlier this year after a distinguished career, believes retaining their Premier League status has to be the main aim this season. Anything else is a bonus.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve achieved, at the end of the day the club have just come up from the Championship and it’s going to be a big challenge,” stressed Simspon.
The way the Premier League is now – and with the teams in it – they’re improving all the time and the standard is so high
Danny Simpson
“The priority has to be staying in the league this season and then build on that the following season.
“But not just staying in the league, it’s about comfortably staying in the league and looking strong.
“You want to be consistent across the season and not be faced with a tough finish, nobody wants that.
“Another summer of recruitment next summer and keep building, which is what we did as a club when we got first came up to the Premier League all those years ago.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.