10 players with the most to prove
By James Dudko
8. Jamie Vardy, Leicester
Goals weren’t a problem for Vardy last season. The 31-year-old netted 22 in all competitions, 20 in the league.
Those goals came with Mahrez pulling the strings in the final third. Supplying Vardy became a happy habit for the versatile winger:
The duo also accounted for the bulk of the Foxes’ goals during the club’s recent golden period:
Numbers like these are the strongest proof Leicester are going to feel Mahrez’s absence. Vardy is likely to feel it the most, although the striker still has the qualities he needs to feature prominently on the league’s scoring charts.
Those qualities include excellent timing and perceptive off-the-ball runs. He may have past 30, but Vardy can also still count on the pace to take him beyond most markers.
Having been the ultimate foil for the wizardry of Mahrez, Vardy must now prove he can manufacture goals by himself.