Thursday 4 January 2018 21:01, UK
Fleetwood manager Uwe Rosler has described Leicester striker Jamie Vardy as "the perfect inspiration" to his players.
Vardy's former club Fleetwood host Leicester in the FA Cup third round on Saturday although a groin injury means the England striker is unlikely to make an emotional return.
The England international moved from non-league Fleetwood to Leicester for £1m in 2012 and went on to win the Premier League title four years later.
Rosler, a former striker himself, has nothing but praise for the way Vardy has handled his transition into the big-time.
"The way he's playing, you're not finding that sort of player very often anymore," he said.
"I think for the club that we are and our DNA, Jamie is the perfect inspiration for our young players, to try to emulate his career and his way is what we are about.
"We are a football club that wants to produce results but we also have a clear business model that we develop young players and hopefully sell them on.
"I have never worked with Jamie but obviously the way he plays he is right up my street.
"To have someone who plays so wholeheartedly, with such a directness, with such a running ability and goal-scoring ability would be very nice to have in a team."
It is the first time that Fleetwood, who now play in League One, have met Premier League opposition and Rosler is under no illusions about the enormity of the task ahead.
"In general I think it is getting harder and harder for lower league clubs to cause a cup upset," he added.
"By saying that I think we have a team that on the day can cause any opposition problems.
"It is important that everything falls our way, refereeing decisions, scoring first, but I definitely think we can cause Leicester problems. Will it be enough in the end? We will see.
"I really enjoy these games where we are the underdog and you have to come up with something and make up for the lack of quality.
"On the day we want to be the best team, maybe not the best individual players, but the best team and give ourselves a chance to stay in the competition".
