Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel believes team-mate Jamie Vardy should be given the opportunity to play as a central striker for England.

The 28-year-old has been in sensational form for the Foxes this season and he currently leads the goalscoring charts in the Premier League, having bagged 11 in as many games.

Leicester, who were tipped by many to struggle this year, have lost just one league match so far and are currently sitting third in the standings, just three points behind table-toppers Manchester City.

Head coach Claudio Ranieri has done a terrific job since taking over from Nigel Pearson in the summer and the former Chelsea boss is certainly getting the best out of his players.

Vardy’s form has been a revelation and the striker, who was playing for Stocksbridge Park Steels back in 2010, has been included in England’s recent squads.

Roy Hodgson has preferred to use the Foxes’ ace as a wide man but Schmeichel insists it would be better to play the Sheffield-born hit-man in a more central role.

“He is on fire at the moment. For me, he is the best striker in the Premier League right now,” he told the Leicester Mercury. “He definitely deserves his chance to play for England down the middle and not on the left like he has been doing.

“He drags us through and sets the tone every single game. When you have a player like that, he is a dream to play with.”

Leicester welcome Watford to the King Power Stadium on Saturday and the hosts are 1.83 favourites to clinch three points, a draw is priced at 3.75 while the Hornets are a 4.33 shot.