Monday 23 May 2016 23:22, UK
Jamie Vardy has promised not to let England manager Roy Hodgson down by partying hard on his wedding night.
Vardy formed a productive combination with Harry Kane against Turkey on Sunday, with the in-form duo both on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory, but is now turning his attention to an even more important partnership.
The title-winning Leicester striker will marry fiancee Rebekah on Wednesday, with Hodgson excusing the 29-year-old from Friday's Euro 2016 warm-up against Australia in Sunderland.
Vardy had already postponed his nuptials on three separate occasions, unsuccessfully trying to avoid a clash with international duty, and will keep his celebrations in check to stay in peak condition.
"It will be a very quiet night on Wednesday. Obviously I hope all the guests have a good time but I will have a quiet one," he said, having also kicked his honeymoon into the long grass.
"I've not got a curfew but at the end of the day I'm a professional and understand what has to be done, so I will be making sure I get plenty of sleep ready to come back in."
Hodgson was willing to offer Vardy some extra leeway for his big day after he cancelled the original date last summer in favour of making his Three Lions debut.
And he is confident the groom will keep his end of the bargain.
"I'm really not concerned. I hope he will be sensible and I believe he will be sensible," said Hodgson.
"I know he really is desperate to be selected to go to the Euros and do a good job so I'm pretty confident when I see him on Saturday morning he will be fine.
"I'd have liked him to have rescheduled it for a bit earlier, or a lot later, than he has done. The reasons for that, I don't know, but I could guess he probably thought he would get a week to 10 days off at the end of the season, because that is what we have done traditionally."
Hodgson has also allowed Vardy's Foxes team-mate Danny Drinkwater to attend the ceremony - provided he can rejoin the group in time.
"He was very good with his invites, he invited everybody but of course we can't go," said the 68-year-old.
"Having said that, we train at 5pm on Wednesday and his wedding is at 2pm so there is a possibility and I have allowed Danny, if he wants, to stop off at Cheshire for the wedding and then join us."
Vardy has shown no sign of trepidation on the international stage, with his close-range winner versus Turkey making it three goals in as many games following strikes against Germany and Holland in March.
But he admits he may not be able to keep his cool as he awaits his bride's arrival.
"To be honest if you asked my partner she'd tell you I don't really get nervous, it's strange," he said.
"But I will probably be nervous when I'm stood at the end of the aisle and she's still not turned up yet."
Hodgson is expected to cut his 26-man squad down to the final 23 after the Australia game, but with Vardy's place not in doubt he will be back in time to face Portugal in the Wembley send-off on June 2.
