Jamie Vardy’s prematch routine includes drinking port and Red Bull

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy’s unconventional prematch routine includes drinking port out of a Lucozade bottle and three cans of Red Bull energy drink to help him “run around like a nutjob.”

Vardy, 29, scored 24 league goals as Leicester won the Premier League title last season and won his first England call-up to cap a remarkable rise from non-League football.

“I can’t say why it started, because I genuinely don’t know, but I decided to drink a glass of port on the eve of every game in the 2015-16 season,” Vardy wrote in his autobiography “Jamie Vardy: From Nowhere, My Story” which is being serialised in The Sun.

“I’m not normally superstitious but from the moment I scored against Sunderland on the opening day, I didn’t want to change anything.

“I fill a small plastic water or Lucozade bottle to halfway and just sip the port while watching television. It tastes like Ribena to me, and it helps me switch off and get to sleep a bit easier the night before a game.”

During Euro 2016, Vardy admitted drinking Red Bull was a part of his training regime, as well as avoiding the gym, and his latest revelations have provided another insight into his unique matchday routine.

“While we’re waiting and killing a bit of time, I have a double espresso,” he said. “We get into the dressing room and an hour-and-a-half before kick-off, and I’ll have a third can of Red Bull. But with this one I’ll sip it all the way until we go out for the warm-up, leaving a bit to finish off when I come back in.

“So three Red Bulls, a double espresso and a cheese and ham omelette is what makes me run around like a nutjob on matchday.”