‘Home victory will give Vardy perfect send-off’

MICHAEL REGAN / GETTY IMAGESFOX IN THE BOX: 

Jamie Vardy hopes to remain in the top flight when he leaves Leicester City

VAN NISTELROOY WANTS PLAYERS TO FOCUS ON BEATING IPSWICH IN STRIKER’S FINAL CITY MATCH

17 May 2025 - Leicester Mercury

LEICESTER City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy feels the best way to give Jamie Vardy a fitting send-off in his 500th and final appearance for the club is to just stay focused on beating Ipswich tomorrow (3pm ko).

Vardy, 38, is leaving the Foxes at the end of the season after 13 years and is not set to be involved for the final game away at Bournemouth, which will allow him a King Power Stadium farewell.

Leicester have produced a special commemorative A4 matchday programme dedicated to Vardy, whose goals helped Claudio Ranieri’s side to a memorable Premier League title triumph in 2016. He also won the 2021 FA Cup.

Having scored 199 goals in 499 games, the former England striker – who announced his decision to leave the club several weeks ago after relegation back to the Championship was confirmed – will be desperate to complete a double century against Ipswich.

Van Nistelrooy confirmed Vardy would again lead the team out tomorrow, but stressed the squad and staff must not get distracted from the job in hand.

“We are all part of his last game, around Jamie and his family,” said the Leicester boss.

“We are all ready to give him the best possible send-off.

“It is something that will be clear on Sunday, because of his status at the club and what he has given the club.”

Van Nistelrooy told a press conference yesterday morning: “For me it is important to prepare for the matches like I always do with the staff.

“To prepare the team to perform as good as they can and I think that is the most important thing I can do.

“The rest is up to him and he will be ready for that, and the way I know him, he will come in and do his best to try to win the game.”

Vardy scored in 11 successive Premier League fixtures during 2015 to break Van Nistelrooy’s previous record of 10.

“When you see the amount of times a player is performing at the highest level, that is the biggest achievement,” said the Dutchman.

“When you have performed 13 seasons at this level, coming up to 500 games, 200 goals, that says it all.

“It says something on your mindset, on your standards, how you live your life around football, preparing yourself day in, day out, to perform.

“Then you look at the trophies he has won, also the individual achievements he reached, this is the total package for one of the greatest.

“This will be his last game for Leicester City, but he wants to continue playing, so in that sense he is committed to perform and to play.”

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Ricardo set to return to squad for Ipswich visit

By JORDAN BLACKWELL 

jordan.blackwell@reachplc.com @jrdnblackwell

RICARDO Pereira could return to the Leicester City squad tomorrow – but it has been confirmed that Stephy Mavididi will not play again this season.

Right-back Ricardo has missed the past two games with injury since being substituted at half-time in City’s defeat at Wolves.

But he will be assessed today to see if he’s fit enough to play a part against Ipswich in Jamie Vardy’s final game.

There are no fresh injuries to the squad, so all of those who featured at Nottingham Forest will be available.

Ruud van Nistelrooy told yesterday morning’s press conference: “There’s no news on last week’s squad and team news, so it’s the same.

“Ricardo is one that today and tomorrow we can have a final view on him to take him into Sunday’s game. That would be great.”

Van Nistelrooy did confirm that Mavididi, below, would play no further part this season.

The winger, who has missed the last three matches with a muscle injury, had initially been declared a doubt for the campaign.

But the manager has now confirmed he won’t play against either Ipswich or Bournemouth in the final match of the season.

That is now four players who are definitely out for the campaign, with Mavididi joining goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, winger Abdul Fatawu, and midfielder Bobby De Cordova-Reid on the sidelines.

Mavididi’s confirmed absence should mean that Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans remain in the firstteam squad for the last two fixtures.

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Skipp set to play key role for City in Championship

EX-TOTTENHAM MIDFIELDER HAS FINALLY BROKEN INTO THE FIRST TEAM AFTER A LONG STRUGGLE

By JORDAN BLACKWELL jordan.blackwell@reachplc.com @jrdnblackwell

OLIVER Skipp “meets the standards” set by Ruud van Nistelrooy and will hope to finish the season with his longest run of Leicester City starts.

ED SYKES/GETTY IMAGES DERBY CLASH: 

Oliver Skipp is challenged by Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood in the draw last weekend

Skipp has been back in the City line-up over the past two matches, replacing Boubakary Soumare, having had to wait since December for a return to the 11.

The £20 million summer signing has not started more than three league matches in a row all season but has the chance to do so if he keeps his spot in the side.

Van Nistelrooy felt Skipp’s spot in the 11 was well-earned for his commitment and professionalism amid his “disappointment” over the past five months.

But while he did well in the 2-0 victory over Southampton, he struggled at times at Nottingham Forest and was withdrawn on the hour.

“I think Oliver is a player that meets the standards, the way I see them,” van Nistelrooy said last week.

“Although he was disappointed he didn’t play, every day he gave the best he could to develop.

“He’s training always at 100 per cent, he’s preparing himself at 100 per cent, for training sessions, for games, the way he looks after himself, and it shows.

“The opportunity came for him, he took the opportunity (against Southampton), he did really well.

“It’s obviously because of his preparations and him being a great professional.

“He deserved that chance because he showed that behaviour, and he did really well.”

The season has perhaps not panned out as Skipp had hoped after he became City’s joint-biggest signing of the summer when he moved from Tottenham.

He has still only made nine starts in the Premier League, and there were games in March where he did not even make the bench, only for Harry Winks’ exclusion to allow him a route back in.

But he is expected to be a key player in the Championship next season, especially with doubts about City’s other midfielders.

Winks and Soumare are entering the final years of their deals, while Wilfred Ndidi could be sold to help with the club’s finances.