JAMIE VARDY HAS admitted he “pinches himself every day” after reflecting on his remarkable journey to becoming the Premier League’s top goalscorer.
Vardy’s 18-goal haul has helped to fire Leicester City to the top of the Premier League – five points clear of second-placed Tottenham.
The Foxes defeated Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to cap off a dream week that saw him sign a new three-and-a-half year deal.
“I do have to pinch myself every day really but it has taken a lot of hard work to be honest,” said Vardy, who was playing non-league football and working a full-time job only three years ago.
“It wasn’t nice playing and having to work full-time all day, so I had to put the work in at first just to get a half-decent club.
“It’s a rise that I wouldn’t have predicted to happen but it’s credit to me for the work I’ve put in as well.
“I literally wish I could play football every day and can carry on playing.”
The 29-year-old said his apprenticeship in the game made him appreciate his job more than most professional footballers.
“You hear some players say that it’s just a job for them but for me it is nothing like that,” he said.
“I’ve worked so hard to get here and I want to keep being here as long as I can. I enjoy every minute of it.
“When I was at Halifax I never thought I would earn a move to the Conference but I got that, then kicked on and from there you would never have thought there would be a move to Leicester, then playing for England.
“You would never have thought it in a million years. But it has happened. It has all worked out well but there has been so much hard work put in it’s untrue.”
