Kasper Schmeichel: 'Jamie Vardy should start as striker for England'

Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has claimed that teammate Jamie Vardy should be playing as a central striker for England.

The 28-year-old forward has been in fine form for the Foxes so far this season, scoring 11 goals in the Premier League in as many games.

Schmeichel has suggested that England manager Roy Hodgson should start Vardy as a striker because he has earned the opportunity to play there at international level.

"He is on fire at the moment," Schmeichel told the Leicester Mercury. "For me, he is the best striker in the Premier League right now.

"I think Jamie is as exactly what international football needs. International football can often get very tactical and predictable. He is very unpredictable because the opposition don't know what he is going to do. He chases and harries.

"He definitely deserves his chance to play for England down the middle and not on the left like he has been doing. He drags us through and sets the tone every single game. When you have a player like that, he is a dream to play with. You hit balls and clearances and he makes something of them. He turns them into good balls because he chases everything down and never gives up. That is exactly what international football needs."

Vardy has won four caps for England.