Leicester City hero Jamie Vardy is not a natural goalscorer - he is just lucky, says Michael Owen

BT Sport pundit questions striker's ability as drought stretches to 12 games

Jamie Vardy (Getty)

He scored 28 goals to help Leicester City to the title last year and was crowned Premier League player of the season, but Jamie Vardy is not a natural goalscorer.

That is the view of Michael Owen, the former Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid forward and current BT Sport pundit, who claims Vardy is not clinical in front of goal – he is merely ‘lucky’.

Vardy has scored just twice in the league this season, with the last of those against Liverpool back on September 10, a record that has drawn stinging criticism from Owen.

“Even when he was scoring loads of goals last season he wasn’t convincing me as a natural finisher,” said the former England striker, who scored 220 club goals in his senior career.

“But then again Alan Shearer used a lot of brute force and power. He was a different type – not everyone finishes the same way.

“Vardy does contribute to the team with his running into the channels and his closing down. But he’s in the team to score goals and we’ve seen a contrast from last season.

“He’s the type of centre forward or type of finisher that is very much head down and hit it. He goes for power a lot. He’s not necessarily a real cute, classy type of finisher.

“He doesn’t once lift his head. He almost hits it through goalkeepers. To be a finisher like that you need a lot of luck – sometimes you'll have it, sometimes you won’t.”

Vardy’s struggles in front of goal have reflected his club’s form, with the Premier League champions sitting 11th in the league after 10 games, although they continue to impress in Europe.