Football
“Vardy is Still Premier League Level,” says Former Teammate Danny Simpson
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy has extended his commitment to Leicester City with a new one-year deal, proving age is just a number. Premier League winner Danny Simpson is confident Vardy remains top-flight material, citing his 18 goals last season and enduring pace and sharpness.
Image Credits: Transfermarkt
Premier League winner Danny Simpson has no doubts Jamie Vardy can still cut the mustard for Leicester City in the Premier League.
Vardy’s Continued Commitment to the Foxes
Veteran striker Vardy ended speculation about his future by penning a new one-year deal with the Foxes on Thursday and is now relishing the chance of have another crack at the topflight.
Simpson and Vardy famously played in the history-making Foxes’ side which won the Premier League crown in 2016 has scored approaching 200 goals in 12 seasons for the club.
Ranked 5000-1 outsiders to claim the title at the start of what proved to be a memorable campaign, former England hitman Vardy inspired a magical maiden top-flight title-winning run with an impressive 24 goals.
Image Credits: Daily Express
Proving Age is Just a Number
Additionally, the 37-year-old marksman shows no sign of slowing down having finished top-scorer with 18 league goals as the Foxes secured a fine promotion back to the big time by winning the Championship crown last season.
“From a sentimental and friend point of view, I’d love to see him have one more good year with Leicester in the Premier League,” Simpson told SportsBoom.com.
“Even coming off the (substitute’s) bench or 20 mins here or 30 mins there, you know he’s only going to need one chance. He scores goals, that’s what he does.
“All he needs is once chance, he’s done that for the last ten years.
“He’s still got that pedigree and he’s still got that pace you need in the Premier League.
“I know the Championship is a different level, but he’s still got that sharpness and focus, he scored 18 goals last season – and he didn’t even start all the games.
He still gets those scrappy goals in the box. For what he’s done for the club, I do think he deserves another season.
Danny Simpson
A Decade of Dedication and Success
Vardy has enjoyed 12 seasons with the Foxes, with nine of them in the Premier League, and has won five pieces of silverware across 464 appearances for the club since signing from Fleetwood Town in 2012.
The ex-Cod Army hitman now has the opportunity to mark a decade of topflight football with the club next term.
“I know he loves the club and he’s been a fantastic servant,” added Simpson.
A Living Leicester Legend
“He’s got Premier League experience, which is priceless, and he’s won the Premier League Golden Boot award, he’s won the title and won the FA Cup.
“He’s a Leicester legend, there’s no doubt about that.”
Vardy, who won 26 caps and scored seven goals for England, revealed he was delighted to have extended his stay at the King Power Stadium.
“There’s still more to come,” enthused Vardy. “I look after myself, I’ve always said age is just a number.
“My legs feels fine so that’s why I carry on until my legs say ‘that’s it, game over’.
“There will be a day when that happens, but it’s not right now.”
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.