Jamie Vardy was going to be scouted by Real Madrid and Barcelona during Spain vs England friendly before injury

Vardy has been ruled out of the friendly due to a minor groin strain but should return to face France next Tuesday

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has been ruled out of England's friendly with Spain (Getty Images)

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy may have seen the chance of a lifetime cruelly taken away from him after it emerged that scouts from both Real Madrid and Barcelona would be taking a special look at him in England’s international friendly against Spain on Friday night, only to have injury rule him out of the match.

Vardy is the form player in the Premier League after firing in 12 goals in as many games for the Foxes, rocketing them up the table to a dizzying third place just one point off leaders Manchester City.

The 28-year-old had been in line to start England’s match in Alicante tonight with Wayne Rooney benched by manager Roy Hodgson, but it was revealed by the Three Lions’ boss yesterday that Vardy had suffered a minor groin injury and would not be able to play against Spain.

The news was made all the worse on Friday morning then the Daily Mail reported that scouts from Spain’s two biggest clubs were looking to cast their eye over the striker ahead of the January transfer window.

Vardy’s contract with Leicester expires at the end of next season, and it’s believed that the club will not stand in the way of the forward should a Champions League regular come calling for his services. Despite his impressive form over the past 15 months though, a move to the likes of Real or Barca would be astounding given his rapid rise through the ranks of English football.

Vardy started out with non-league side Stocksbridge Park Steels before moving on to Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town, before Leicester spotted him in 2012 and swooped for him with a non-League record transfer fee of £1m the rose to £1.7m with add-ins.

But his injury has also handed Hodgson further problems in attack, with a number of players out sidelined with mid-to-long-term injuries. Daniel Sturridge remains absent for Liverpool while Danny Welbeck has not played a minute of football this season, and Hodgson’s concerns have been compounded with further injuries to Theo Walcott and Danny Ings of Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.