Jamie Vardy is like Craig Bellamy according to Wales manager Chris Coleman

Craig Bellamy played for Wales between 1998 and 2013

England striker Jamie Vardy is like Craig Bellamy according to Wales boss Chris Coleman.

Bellamy scored 19 goals in 78 appearances for Wales and and Coleman thinks Vardy has a similar ability to outpace defenders.

"Where he comes from and how he plays, he is very much old school. It's hard not to like him," he said.

Wales face England in Group B of the Euro 2016 championship in Lens on Thursday, 16 June.

"I was a defender myself and you don't want to be running back to your own goal the whole time," Coleman added.

Jamie Vardy finished the 2015-16 Premier League season as joint second top-scorer with 24 goals, the same tally as Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, one behind his England strike partner Harry Kane.

A Premier League winner with Leicester, Vardy scored the winner in England's 2-1 win over Turkey on Sunday and could line up against Wales next month.

Coleman continued, "He's like Craig Bellamy, all he wanted to do was run in behind.

"I don't care if you are the best defender on the planet and are quick, you don't want [Vardy] running behind you all the time."

The Wales boss ended speculation on his future after signing a new deal to remain manager of the national team until after the 2018 World Cup.

Coleman guided Wales to the finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1958 World Cup and believes England boss Roy Hodgson under more pressure than the managers of his Group B opponents.

"The pressure on Roy is different to the pressure on us, Russia or Slovakia," Coleman added.

"Look at England as a team and they have strength in every department, they have strength in depth.

"Yes, they'll be fancied, but there is great pressure on them. Roy is perfect for it with his experience, his personality. He is very calm, that will work well for the players.

"He doesn't get excited, he's been to tournaments and that will stand him in him in good stead."