Jamie Vardy cupped his ears to the Sheffield United fans after putting Leicester City ahead last weekend.
The look the striker gave the home support at Bramall Lane suggested there was no love lost. Unsurprising, really, when it’s considered Vardy is a Sheffield Wednesday fan and was on their books until the age of 16.
The 32-year-old has never hidden his lifelong affinity with the Owls. When Leicester drew United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, Vardy jokingly berated then teammate Harry Maguire for declaring his love for his former team.
Maguire came through the Blades academy, but in an interview with the Leicester Mercury the retired England international outed the defender as a boyhood Wednesday supporter.
Jamie Vardy hates Sheffield United
While his comments about Maguire were said with his tongue firmly in his cheek, Vardy does not afford his team’s rivals the same treatment.
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The forward scored the winner in that cup clash in February 2018. In an interview with the Telegraph, Vardy revealed he couldn’t wait to repeat the feat at Bramall Lane.
Relishing it so much, he even referred to the trip to his home city as “abuse Vardy day.”
“I can’t wait for that,” he said.
“It does not bother me at all. At away games I get dog’s abuse and if anything it just spurs me on a bit more. You would think the fans would realise to stop. I might not play as well.
“I made sure my celebrations were very over the top when we scored (in the FA Cup). It’s all looking like that will be a good day.”
For Vardy and the Foxes it certainly was a good day, as they left South Yorkshire with all three points. And that celebration from the attacker on 38 minutes was clearly no spur of the moment decision.