Jamie Vardy should not get hung up on England role, Roy Hodgson says
Thursday 5 November 2015 16:09, UK
Roy Hodgson has told Jamie Vardy not to get "hung up" on where he plays for England.
Vardy is the Premier League's top goalscorer, and his Leicester team-mate Kasper Schmeichel is among those lobbying for him to play through the middle in this month's friendlies against Spain and France.
Hodgson went with Harry Kane against Estonia and Lithuania last month in the absence of injured captain Wayne Rooney, starting Vardy in a wider position in the second of those games.
And the manager said: "I don't necessarily think players at international level should be hung up on one particular position.
"It's a bit simplistic to say 'he scores goals for Leicester in this position, he can do the same for England'. Maybe he can, maybe he can't.
"I think Jamie Vardy can play in any of the front three positions, and he should be happy at the moment to be in the squad, and if he's in the team even happier.
"His job should be definitely to try to convince us he's got the ability to play as a forward in an England team and not get too hung up - as I see some people wanting to get hung up - on thinking he'll only be good if he plays 'here'."
Record goalscorer Rooney is back in the latest squad after answering criticism of his Manchester United form with a winning goal against CSKA Moscow in midweek.
Louis van Gaal said last month he is "sick" of answering questions on his use of Rooney, and Hodgson is not interested in interfering.
"I don't get involved in that debate," he said. "I think it's up to every club manager to use his players the way he wants to use them and get his team to play the way he wants to. I must do the same with the England team.
"It's good to see him score a goal. It's been a difficult time for him and it's nice to see him score a crucial goal in a Champions League match and I congratulate him on that."
