Jamie Vardy can be just like bad-boy Luis Suarez, says Brendan Rodgers
Leicester hero Vardy’s goals dried up at home this season before the sacking of Claude Puel.
But new Foxes boss Rodgers cannot wait to get him chewing up Prem defenders again.
Loose-cannon ex-Liverpool star Suarez is not exactly a perfect role model having copped three bans for BITING.
But ahead of the trip to Watford, Rodgers said: “I’ve got one of the best strikers around who can press at the top end of the field.
“When I was Liverpool manager, it was Luis who started the press — so that’s where it begins for Jamie.
“You have to be ready to press in the modern game but even Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool are not doing it for 90 minutes.
“My teams have always been dominant with the ball to create opportunities.
“Jamie is so natural at pressing — we just need to get players closer to him.”
Worryingly, Vardy, 32, has scored only three goals at home all campaign.
But the veteran hitman did net for the first time at the King Power since December 1 in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Brighton.
Explaining his slump, Rodgers said: “After the title win in 2016 and everything around the threat of Jamie, space in behind is not there all the time, especially at home.
“The team has dropped deeper and a gap has developed between him and the rest of the team. That is too big, so the long ball goes up to him and he’s fighting on his own.
“We need to find a way to exploit his qualities and it was something I spoke to Jamie about at length on Friday before training.
“I hope Jamie will be a better all-round striker as a result. I will certainly give him other ideas and simplify his game.
“He needs service but you saw at Tottenham, when the ball comes in he’s a natural finisher.
“So I’m looking forward to that and seeing him develop.
“The hunger he has is similar to Suarez but he doesn’t need to be running to the corner flags — just tactical snippets like that.
“Jamie can still develop at 32. He is still super-fast and in good shape.”
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