Tom Cannon: Leicester City striker learning from Jamie Vardy after injury problems

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Tom Cannon (right) challenges for the ball against two Plymouth players on his Foxes debutImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Tom Cannon was found to have a stress fracture in his back when he joined Leicester

Tom Cannon says he aspires to emulate Jamie Vardy on the pitch and has used an injury-hit start to his Leicester career to learn from his team-mate.

The 20-year-old striker arrived from Everton in September despite carrying an injury, and finally made his debut in Saturday's win against Plymouth.

Cannon says he grew up being compared to Vardy, and has relished training with the ex-England international.

"I'm here always watching, learning and seeing how he trains," Cannon said.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, the forward added: "Coaches in the past, and the papers and whatnot have said we have similar playing styles.

"I see what he does now and see what I can bring into my game and take it from there.

"From watching clips when he was smashing in the goals six or seven years ago, and he has obviously continued to do that, but when it was at his peak he was the perfect player for me to watch and learn off.

"Because we have been linked as similar players I can only learn off him."

Vardy, whose goals were instrumental as Leicester City won the Premier League title in 2015-16 and who then went on to become the oldest player to win the top-flight's Golden Boot award in 2020, is again Leicester's leading scorer so far this season with seven goals in all competitions.

Cannon came off the bench in Saturday's 4-0 win against Plymouth - a game that out-of-favour Patson Daka started as striker because Vardy was ruled out with a "small knee problem" and Kelechi Iheanacho missed out because of illness.

With both Zambia's Daka and Nigeria international Iheanacho set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Cannon's return to action after being forced out with a stress fracture in his back is a timely one.

"It was a tough start," Cannon said of injury-hit move to the King Power Stadium.

"Coming in on deadline day, I was full of excitement and then getting hit with the news was a bit gutting. But I just cracked on and kept my head down, done my rehab and what was needed.

"To now be fully back out on the pitch with the lad and being fully involved is a great feeling. I'm just hoping for me."

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