Jamie Vardy named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year after firing Leicester towards title

Vardy has scored 22 goals this season to leave Leicester one match away from clinching the title

Jamie Vardy (Getty)

Jamie Vardy has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for the 2015/16 season, with the striker firing Leicester City to the cusp of a first ever Premier League title.

Vardy has scored 22 goals this season for the Foxes, who can win the title on Monday night if Tottenham fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after Leicester’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Vardy missed the match through suspension having been handed an additional match ban after being sent-off in the 2-2 draw with West Ham, with his abusive reaction towards referee Jon Moss resulting in the England international missing the 4-0 win over Swansea and the draw at Old Trafford.

While his absence threatened to derail Leicester’s title charge, his form this season is a key reason why the East Midlands club are in the position of league leaders in the first place. The 29-year-old has notched a goal every 135 minutes in the top flight, and has also laid on six assists for his teammates in a season that has defied all expectations.

The former non-league player is available to return for Leicester’s weekend fixture with Everton on Saturday that represents their final home match of the season at the King Power Stadium, and even if Spurs find a way to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 26 years, the Foxes can secure the title with a win over the Toffees.

While Vardy’s season on the pitch has been a hugely successful one, off it the campaign began in controversy. Leicester “issued the player with a substantial fine and prescribed a programme of diversity-awareness training” after he was caught on CCTV racially abusing an Asian man in a casino last July. Vardy was also “reminded of his responsibilities”, and met the victim to apologise to his face.

The forward plays with an edge to his game that suggests he is a fiery character off the pitch, but thankfully the rest of the season has gone by without incident – at least not while he’s been in the blue shirt of Leicester.

On the pitch, he looked a contender for the Premier League top goalscorers until he was sent-off against the Hammers for two bookable offences – the second for a dive in the penalty area. Vardy’s reaction was to verbally abuse referee Moss, and he subsequently missed two matches instead of one. Now, the top goalscorers looks beyond him with Harry Kane leading the way on 24 goals and Sergio Aguero 23, while the Tottenham striker also appears to have nailed down the starting striker berth for England at Euro 2016.

Jamie Vardy reacts to being shown a red card (Getty)

However, Vardy can at least look to the positive that his aggressive reaction has not cost him the chance to celebrate winning the title – should they do so – with his Leicester teammates. Even if Spurs fail to win today, Vardy will be available for selection the next time the Leicester squad take the pitch, albeit has recently anointed Premier League champions.