Burnley 0-2 Leicester: Jamie Vardy return a huge boost for Foxes, says Brendan Rodgers

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers mentioned having Jamie Vardy again provides his aspect “a huge boost” after the striker made a goal-scoring return from damage at Burnley to offer the Foxes their first league win of 2022.

It was his tenth Premier League objective of the season, however his first since late November and gave his boss hope that they will end the season strongly after a run of 5 matches with out a win within the striker’s absence.

“We knew we had James [Maddison] and Jamie’s high quality to come back on,” Rodgers instructed BBC Sport. “James scored a good objective after which you would see the boldness from it. Then Vardy was there and did what Vardy does finest.

“He is a actual catalyst for the crew. You see his power. He makes runs and presses and is often in the best areas to attain. He is a huge boost for us. To have that high quality and mentality again within the crew will assist us.

“We have to remain centered on the soccer and never look too far forward. Stay calm, play our soccer and maintain centered after which we got here right here and acquired a consequence.

“An extended technique to go within the season. We wish to go far as we will within the European competitors and see the place we’re on the finish of the season.”

Vardy has been absent with a hamstring damage because the 1-0 win at Liverpool – the final time the Foxes had received earlier than the journey to Turf Moor.

“It has been a lengthy 9 weeks resting after which 4 weeks getting the muscular tissues again up,” Vardy instructed BBC Sport. “The essential factor was to get again on and put a efficiency in.

“You at all times wish to come on however you at all times need to hearken to the medical crew as effectively and I’ve been again in coaching simply the final 4 days. Getting 20 minutes it’s good for myself there isn’t a extra points.

“I do not assume you’ll be able to lose that [scoring touch]. It is intuition.”

It had been a largely even recreation earlier than Maddison’s opener, though the Foxes did vogue the larger variety of possibilities, discovering dwelling keeper Nick Pope in fantastic kind.

The Clarets had the ball within the internet within the first half, however Maxwel Cornet was adjudged to have moved a fraction early to faucet in Aaron Lennon’s low cross.

The win takes the Foxes to 30 factors and permits them to breathe extra simply after a poor latest run of league outcomes.

There isn’t any respite for Sean Dyche’s aspect, who’ve seen their latest essential revival checked and keep within the backside three, a level behind Seventeenth-placed Everton.

City present grit and Vardy brings the guile

After two fifth-place finishes for Leicester within the final two seasons, this league marketing campaign is now one in all incomes Premier League respectability whereas persevering with to problem for the final remaining piece of silverware on provide – the inaugural Europa Conference League.

There have been extenuating circumstances for the Foxes’ downturn this season, not least of all Vardy’s prolonged absence, however they’ve seemed a delicate contact at occasions on the again, with the gradual sapping of confidence taking away their attacking verve.

Prior to this recreation, they had been the one aspect with out an away clear sheet within the prime flight this season, transport 25 targets in 11 video games on the highway as a part of a run of 18 top-flight matches away from the King Power Stadium with out stopping the opposition scoring.

They had additionally conceded a league-high 18 occasions from set-pieces.

This consequence – and the efficiency to earn it – was essential then, coming towards a aspect with two wins and a draw from the previous three matches, scrapping for each level and offering of the sternest of checks to a defence from corners and free-kicks.

As pleasing for Brendan Rodgers as the 2 targets – each fantastically taken by two substitutes offering that requisite contact of sophistication from the bench – would be the method his aspect saved the Clarets contained.

Aside from Cornet’s disallowed tap-in, the house aspect had been saved to half-chances, with the Ivorian poking one other effort huge within the second-half and Wout Weghorst failing to transform on the again publish shortly after Leicester’s opener.

Better possibilities got here on the different finish, with Nick Pope required to exhibit his sturdy positioning and reflexes on a variety of events to disclaim Ricardo Pereira, Patson Daka and Harvey Barnes.

The icing on the cake was Vardy’s sharpness after approaching. He acrobatically volleyed one effort over, was fast and good to remain onside and latch on to Kasper Schmeichel’s clearance to arrange Maddison and completely positioned to say his objective.

The end means he has now surpassed Ian Wright’s file for most Premier League targets scored after turning 30, with the Leicester man taking his tally to 94.

“It is nice, in all probability simply means I did not rating sufficient earlier than 30,” he added. “Fingers crossed there’s extra to come back.”

He will now be champing on the bit to start out towards Leeds on Saturday. Burnley, in the meantime, have a robust journey to Chelsea as they once more search to claw their method out of the underside three.

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