Vardy aiming to catch Hodgson’s eye to get a start

Jamie Vardy of England celebrates scoring England's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between England and Wales (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

JAMIE VARDY says he is happy to continue being an impact substitute for England but is still hoping to persuade Roy Hodgson to give him a chance from the first whistle.

Vardy, having been left on the bench for England’s draw with Russia, made an almost immediate impact as a half-time replacement against Wales on Thursday, netting an equaliser just 11 minutes after coming on.

The Leicester forward is now being touted as a possible starter for Monday’s final group game against Slovakia but, while he hopes that is the case, the quick 29-year-old accepts there are reasons why Hodgson might decide against employing him from the start.

He told a press conference: “You can see the logic definitely (of saving him for later in matches). For players getting tired it’s probably easier to exploit but I’m happy either way, and it’s down to me in training to, hopefully, get into the gaffer’s mind to get a start.”

Vardy also insists he feels no frustration having gone from being a Barclays Premier League superstar to warming the bench at Euro 2016.

The striker, who finished with 24 goals last season, said: “It’s up to the boss at the end of the day. He picks the team which he thinks can get the win, so we’ll have to wait and see until tomorrow what team he puts out.

“I think it is tough for him but having competition for places is very good for the squad.”

Vardy also expects strike rival Harry Kane to do all he can to keep hold of his first XI spot, dismissing any suggestion the Tottenham man might be suffering from fatigue after failing to make much of an impression in his starts against Russia and Wales.

Vardy said: “He doesn’t seem tired, I’m sure it’ll be just the complete opposite. He’ll want to keep starting and, hopefully, get on that goal run.”

Following his club exploits last season, Vardy has been linked with a big-money move this summer, with Arsenal seemingly at the front of the queue.

However, news on that front has taken a back seat during the European Championship, and Vardy preferred to keep things that way yesterday.

He said when quizzed about his future: “I’m just here focused on England and that’s all I want to do.”

England will guarantee top spot in Group B if they can beat Slovakia in St Etienne and, despite needing a stoppage-time Daniel Sturridge goal to overcome Wales, having trailed at half-time,

Vardy believes they do not need to change much with regards their approach.

He added: “I thought the performance (against Wales) overall was very good. We didn’t deserve to be losing. We just need to carry on what we’re doing.”

Roy Hodgson believes his attack-heavy squad will help England flourish as Euro 2016 progresses.

The 68-year-old has been pigeon-holed by many as a reserved manager, so raised eyebrows by naming a squad awash with forward options for France.

Hodgson plumped for just three out-and-out centre-backs in order to maximise the available attacking strength in depth.

He said: “We deliberately went that way because we think in tournaments, that’s what you need. They evolve quickly and they are knockout games.

“It is nice that people have praised us for our boldness but, if we had drawn or lost, it wouldn’t have made any difference to what we would have had to have done against Slovakia.

“We would have had to win anyway, so why not go 100 per cent for the victory in this one?”

Hodgson felt all that was lacking in the first half against Wales was tempo and aggression in the final third.

The substitutions worked out excellently as England eked out a stoppage time-winner.

“You can’t feel the pressure of what might happen,” Hodgson said of how Gareth Bale’s free-kick changed his half-time emotions.

“The beauty of games for me is that once the game starts, I can shut out all the things that are being suggested, said, all the problems, and concentrate 100 per cent on what is happening on the field.

“What have we got to do? What’s necessary? Are changes necessary?

“Once you allow yourself to get caught up in ‘blimey, if this doesn’t go our way, this, this and this will be said’, you don’t do your job as well as you would like to do it.

“I don’t like the build up to games, sitting there, waiting and thinking. As soon as that whistle blows, for that 92 minutes, I’m full on.”

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