Claudio Ranieri warns Jamie Vardy is ready to start firing again ahead of Leicester striker's return at EvertonThe England striker has sat out his side's last three matches following his red card at Stoke but Ranieri insists he is ready to go ahead of the FA Cup clash at GoodisonClaudio Ranieri welcomes back Jamie Vardy on Saturday with a warning for defenders the frustrated striker is ready to start smashing in the goals regularly again.
The champions' Italian boss and the club's Thai owners were furious when their appeal against Vardy's controversial straight red card at Stoke failed.
The England forward, who scored 24 goals last term to help fire City to the title, missed their games against Everton, West Ham and Middlesbrough.
It added to Vardy and Leicester's woes as he has struggled to replicate his stunning form from last season when he scored in a record 11 successive Premier League games.
He has shown flashes such as his brilliant hat-trick against Man City but Vardy has also endured a 16-game goalless drought.
Ranieri has confirmed Vardy will start at Everton in the FA Cup as Leicester bid for “revenge” after their recent league loss.
And despite the former non-league forward turning 30 next week, Ranieri insists Vardy has plenty more goal-scoring heroics left in him.
Ranieri welcomed the ace back saying: “I am very good and he is very happy.
“Yes of course he wanted to play, all the players want to play but now he is ready to run, to score, he is ready.
“Now there is another half season and he can score every game.
“He is in a good moment now and I hope he can re-start as well as last season. He should start at Everton.”
Vardy spearheaded Leicester's attack last season as they defied odds of 5,000-1 to lift the Premier League title.
But he has had to adapt this game this term to play deeper following the arrival of record £29million forward Islam Slimani.
Yet Algerian Slimani's departure to the Africa Cup of Nations means Vardy can now anticipate a run in the side as City look to climb up the table from 15th.
Ranieri expects Vardy to be a big threat once more in a leading role and says his landmark birthday next week is no concern.
Ranieri reflected: “I think the age of the players has changed.
“A long time ago maybe 30 was an old player, now he is a young, experienced player who can score again for another four or five years.
“He is intelligent, you see how he tries to link with Slimani and sometimes attack the space and sometimes go wide to make a cross, that is very important.
“He is still improving until the end of his career.
“The man who doesn't improve is finished, not the player, the man.”
Daily Mirror