Friday 22 February 2019 23:12, UK
Leicester manager Claude Puel believes his attempts to develop Jamie Vardy's game can help extend the striker's Premier League career.
The pair have not always seen eye to eye during Puel's tenure at Leicester and Vardy has found himself in and out of the starting line-up at times this season.
Having scored as a substitute in Leicester's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham, the former England international is expected to return to the starting line-up for Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace and Puel feels Vardy is beginning to appreciate what he is trying to do.
"From what I can see this week, I think he understands. He was very interested in the training session with good moves, good runs, good quality," Puel said. "I would like him to continue this way. For me it's the secret to continuing at a high level.
"I have a lot of patience - I'm an optimist. All players continue to work and improve until the end career. If a player stops learning and improving it's the beginning of the end for me.
"Jamie has the potential to continue for a long time. He likes football and it's important he continues to improve. He has the quality to combine with his team-mates and to learn good moves in the opponent's box."
Vardy missed a penalty with his first touch after coming off the bench at Wembley, but found the net soon after as some fine movement allowed him to finish off a patient Leicester move.
He has netted eight goals in 24 games this season, taking his tally to 26 strikes in 16 months under Puel, more than any other Leicester player.
"Jamie, he played a lot of games on counter-attack. When we play against a team deep on the pitch he can't have this space, he needs to learn, like his team-mates, different moves," Puel said.
"Against United he had two or three situations like this in far post but he must create this move for himself. It's a different feeling, different things,
"He's learned. He was interested in training this week he scored a great goal against Tottenham in this move."
