Jamie Vardy: Leicester City striker says age just a number as he reaches 10 goals for season
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Jamie Vardy has been with Leicester City for almost 12 years
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy says his age will not define him and credits Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca for helping him evolve this season.
The 37-year-old came off the bench to score twice in Saturday's 5-0 win at Stoke, which took his season tally to 10 goals in all competitions.
It had Leicester fans chanting for "10 more years" of Vardy, whose goals helped the Foxes to Premier League and FA Cup glory in the past decade.
"Age is just a number," Vardy said.
"You are as as old as you feel, how your legs feel, and I make sure I look after myself and make sure I recover right and do extra when I'm at home.
"So as long as I keep doing that, I'll keep feeling fresh."
Vardy, who is out of contract at Leicester at the end of the season, has scored three times in his past two appearances - after only recently returning from a knee injury.
When asked by BBC Radio Leicester about his form and taking his tally to 180 goals for the Foxes, Vardy replied: "I don't really look back, it's all about looking forward."
'Never too old to learn'
Vardy was Leicester's top goalscorer in seven successive Premier League seasons, starting in 2015-16 when his 24 goals fired them to a miraculous title.
Just two seasons earlier his goals had helped the Foxes win promotion from the Championship as title winners.
His explosiveness in attack - the combination of pace, power and poise - helped define a decade of unparalleled success for the East Midlands club.
Now he is back in the second tier trying to immediately return the Foxes to the top flight.
However, the demands on Vardy are different under Maresca, with the Italian's methodical, possession-focused approach to the game.
Vardy's goals against Stoke were a close-range finish, at the end of a flowing move, and an injury-time penalty.
"Like anything, you can never be too old to learn something new," Vardy said.
"It's the way he wants us to play and when you are on the training pitch, it's all about taking that, practicing that and making sure that you are able to do it so you give yourself a chance of getting into his team.
"Playing the football we do has been really enjoyable for myself personally.
"It has added a different dimension to my game, so it's been brilliant."
Vardy's goals at Stoke on Saturday helped complete Leicester's most comprehensive win of the campaign.
It also moved them 11 points clear at the top of the table, and keeps them on track to potentially break the Championship points record.
Defeat by Coventry City in mid-January is Leicester's only loss in 14 league games, dating back to mid-November.
"You are not going to be able to win every single game, that's not really possible with how many games there are," Vardy said. "So you have to take the rough with the smooth.
"When we have had a little blip, it's all about refocusing and taking it to the next game, and making sure we go on another big run.
"Hopefully we can carry that on now."