England

Roy Hodgson: 'Leicester City hitman Jamie Vardy will play where I tell him to'

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 06 November 2015

England coach Roy Hodgson warns Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy that he can play where he is told or stay at home for future international outings.

England boss Roy Hodgson has told in-form Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy that he will have to settle for a wide role if he wants to continue his international career.

Four-cap Vardy has spent most of his Three Lions spell on the left wing, but his goalscoring form for the Foxes - which includes 11 Premier League goals in 11 games - has given rise to suggestions that he deserves a central role.

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel would prefer to see the 28-year-old lead England's forward line, but Hodgson believes that the marksman - who has two international starts under his belt - is in no position to dictate where he plays.

"When you have only played two games, you are in no position to go to the coach and say, 'I will play for England but only in this position'. That is the point I am trying to make," he told reporters.

"I am just trying to defuse hype and make one very important point which is very, very obvious to anyone who has been following England for a long time. That is: An England shirt is a very valuable commodity. I think Jamie Vardy can play in any of the front three positions.

"Jamie has only played a couple of games from the start. He should be happy at the moment a) to be in the squad and b) even happier if he makes the team. His job, I think, should be definitely to try to convince that he has got the ability to play as a forward in an England team and not get too hung up like some people if he only plays here [in a certain position]."

Hodgson's men, who qualified for Euro 2016 by winning all 10 of their qualifiers, face Spain away in a friendly on November 13, before hosting France four days later.