Leicester boss Smith: Vardy crucial for survival

Leicester City veteran Jamie Vardy is proving the doubters wrong as the season nears its conclusion.

That is the opinion of manager Dean Smith, who is relying on Vardy to score the goals to keep them up.

Vardy looked back to his best during a 2-2 draw against Everton on Monday night.

People will have seen in the last few games the hunger, desire and work rate he has shown," said Smith to reporters.

As he puts it, his legs are still there, and his brain is still there. He scored against Leeds and Everton and he is in a good place.

He knows he'll be judged on goals and he's not really had the pitch time to earn those goals or chances.

But he won a penalty against Wolves, scored against Leeds, and scored and hit the bar against Everton. He's in a good vein of form and with four games to play we need that.

It wasn't a case of rebuilding his confidence but we had to play more to what we feel are his strengths. He is very intelligent at making runs but he needs the balls to go into the areas where is running.

If you put the ball into those areas he will make things happen. We have to have the supply line to him and he has to make the runs."