Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane would be an effective front two for England, says Leicester boss Claude Puel

  • Tottenham striker Harry Kane is first choice for Gareth Southgate's England
  • The England manager often opts to play the Spurs man as a lone striker
  • That means Leicester's Jamie Vardy is used mainly from the substitutes bench
  • Claude Puel believes the two strikers' qualities could compliment each-other

Leicester manager Claude Puel has urged England boss Gareth Southgate to play Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane together as a strike partnership.

Kane is first choice for the national team, understandably given the Tottenham man has been the Premier League's top-scorer for the past two seasons, with Southgate often opting to play him as a lone striker, meaning Vardy is a substitute.


There have been occasions when the two have been on the pitch at the same time, but that has regularly resulted in Vardy being deployed in a wider position and not through the middle.

Claude Puel has urged  Gareth Southgate to play Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane together

Claude Puel has urged Gareth Southgate to play Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane together

Leicester Puel looks on during Monday's training session at the club's Belvoir Drive complex

Leicester Puel looks on during Monday's training session at the club's Belvoir Drive complex

Puel believes the two strikers' different qualities could compliment each other and see them dovetail well for England.

'I think it would be a good opportunity perhaps if they could play together because it would be a good balance between Jamie and Harry,' said Puel, whose side host Tottenham in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

'Harry can play a little further back because he likes to play and participate with his team-mates and Jamie likes to take space and play behind the defenders. It is a good balance between them both.'

Kane, who had a loan spell at Leicester as part of his development almost five years ago when the Foxes were in the Championship, has scored more goals against his former team than any other club in the Premier League.

Puel believes the two strikers' different qualities could compliment each other

Puel believes the two strikers' different qualities could compliment each other

He scored four times on his last visit to the King Power Stadium in May and has already hit the back of the net 19 times for club and country this season.

Asked how to stop Kane, Puel replied: 'It is difficult. For me it's collective because he doesn't stay in place. Sometimes he goes back to play between the lines, sometimes goes for first balls and sometimes second.

'He plays with a good understanding with his team-mates. He can shoot, he can score from every position around the box and inside the box. It is difficult because he is clinical because in every position he can score without an opportunity.'

Puel will still be without central defender Robert Huth (ankle) and midfielder Matty James (Achilles) against Tottenham, but the Frenchman otherwise has a full squad available.