The Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has tipped his “warrior” forward Jamie Vardy to be called up for England’s next two European Championship qualifiers, despite the player being fined by his club over a racial slur he made in a casino.
The player has also been ordered to attend a diversity awareness course, and in the event that Vardy receives another international call-up, he will be informed he has breached the Football Association’s code of conduct for England players and warned about his future behaviour.
On Sunday the England manager Roy Hodgson is due to name his squad for next month’s matches against San Marino and Switzerland and despite the player’s off-the-pitch controversies Ranieri said 28-year-old Vardy, who has made one appearance for the national side in June, would add to the fighting spirit in the England set-up.
The Italian told Sky Sports: “Jamie is positive, he is a warrior, every ball could be the best ball. He never gives up and I love this kind of player. Anything can happen, Jamie attacks and breaks the line all the time and it’s very good for us.
“When some international coaches call my players up it means we’re doing a good job.”
Ranieri also said he plans to change his entire starting 11 against the League One side Bury in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday evening. He has sent out the same starting 11 in all of the club’s Premier League games this season, but he intends to give opportunities to several members of his squad against the third-tier side.
The manager told the club website: “I’ll change all 11 players. I have a very good squad. Now this is the right moment for the others to show their strengths.
“Three times I chose the same lineup but, behind this, there are some people that deserve to start from the beginning. This is their real chance.”
