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Jamie Vardy is making up for lost time. A Premier League winners medal, appearances at both Euro 2016 and in the Champions League, and now a Ballon dOr nominee. Not bad for a lad who was still playing non-league football at 25. Adam Bate met up with the fairytale finisher to discover the secrets to his training regime and why Kevin Phillips could be his inspiration (yes, really)... Jamie Vardy is early for our interview. Thats not typical in football. But then, Vardy isnt the typical footballer. He does open up with a grin and a light-hearted quip about being in a hurry to get back to his Playstation, but who can blame him for eyeing some down time? Its been quite a year for the Leicester - and now England - striker. Nike Footballs Training gear is built for speed, with revolutionary AeroSwift technology Following the drama of that improbable title triumph, there was the equalising goal for his country in the Euro 2016 win over Wales. Hes embracing Champions League football for the first time now too. Away from the pitch, Vardy is balancing commercial commitments with a new autobiography thats already making headlines. Its been a busy time but Vardy remains calm. Hes had time to take it all in. Ive had a chance to reflect on it all, he tells Sky Sports. There was a bit of time in the summer when I got the opportunity to relax and think about whats happened. But its all been good.Some of the tastier morsels in Vardys book reference his habit of sipping port on the night before matches and an earlier penchant for drinking skittles vodka. He insists the reality isnt quite so shocking. A lot has changed, he says. Theres no vodka anymore. That was ages ago. Its just something I did when I was younger. Claudio Ranieri says hes fine with Vardys pre-match routine Famously, of course, those younger days were spent playing non-league football having been released by Sheffield Wednesday. Still a Stocksbridge Park Steels player at the age of 23, its no wonder that Vardys preparation was, by his own admission, massively different to the methods hes practising today in Nikes latest football training gear.I was training twice a week on a miserable, cold night, explains Vardy. Your training was to go out and do a bit of ball work, a bit of fitness and then finish off with a game. It was constantly just lengths of the pitch. That was it. Then it was off home, get into bed and then go to work in the morning.Such a routine wasnt ideal but it does partially explain Vardys exponential improvement since then. He enjoyed success in the lower leagues, winning titles with Halifax, Fleetwood and Leicester before even reaching the Premier League. But each step of the way, the exposure to better training methods has helped make the rise seamless. Vardy scored 24 goals as Leicester won the Premier League title last season As a Premier League player, those lengths of the pitch are a thing of the past. Obviously when youre doing fitness work at a club all week and every week, he explains, its all about specific drills for what you need to do on the pitch. So Id be doing a different drill to the centre-midfielders. Its all specifically tailored for me.For example, my drills are high speed. Its all about trying to break the line with a sharp sprint. That benefits me. If I went and did a half-marathon it probably wouldnt. It seems to work. According to the Premier Leagues tracking data, Vardy was the fastest man on the pitch in the first three games at the King Power Stadium this season.How much further Vardy can progress is open to debate. Hes already a Premier League winner anyway and turns 30 this January. But working with England will help to keep his game sharp - being around the countrys best players can only help - and, importantly, he still gives the impression that hes a player keen to learn. Vardy on Ballon dOr list Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are on the Ballon dOr shortlist. Thats a trait that Leicester as a team will need this season. We know weve always got to adapt, says Vardy. We know that last year probably wont happen again. Teams are more wary of what were about now. We know we have to adapt on the training field and put that into the matches with plans A, B and C if needed.The signings of Ahmed Musa and Islam Slimani have added competition in attack. While Vardy jokes that hed probably still gamble on winning a flick-on from the likes of Musa or Shinji Okazaki as well as Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa, they are all very different strike partners. Claudio Ranieri has plenty of options.With the Champions League to contend with, hell need them too. Weve not really had a day off, says Vardy. After a Saturday game, were in on a Sunday to cool down and make sure were fully back at it again. But it doesnt really affect things too much. Its basically like youve had a game on the Saturday and then youre in the cup on a Tuesday. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The routine is working so far. Leicester have already beaten Club Brugge, Porto and FC Copenhagen with Vardy winning a trademark penalty in the first of those games against the Belgian side. The only surprise was that they werent anticipating the run. Hopefully theyve not taken as much time as Premier League teams to watch us, so we might be able to spring one or two more surprises, he says.Were going to have to get used to the referees. Theyre different in every single league across Europe. They are the little aspects weve got to be wary of but its enjoyable. Thats what we said from the start. Its something we didnt expect to be playing in so we need to just go out there and enjoy it. We need to express ourselves.The early signs are that the clubs European adventures do seem to be impacting on their Premier League form, with Leicester losing their third game of the season by late September - the same number of defeats that the team suffered throughout the entirety of their title-winning campaign. Leicester vs W Brom November 6, 2016, 4:15pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass But with the team having overachieved so sensationally last term, it should be little cause for alarm. Especially when Vardy and the team are keeping a lid on expectations. The targets that have been set are exactly the same as last year, he insists. We want to get to 40 points first. Well try to reach that target and keep going from there.As for Vardys personal ambitions, longevity is the goal. Having had to fight his way to the top, hes in no rush to give it all up. Kevin Phillips, his former striker coach at Leicester, played in the Premier League at 40 let alone 30, and its not lost on Vardy that Phillips was playing for non-league Baldock Town in the eighth tier at the age of 21.Because Ive come into the game a lot later Ive not had so much wear and tear on my legs at this age that I would have done if Id come onto the scene at 17 or 18, he says. So hopefully the legs will hold up. I just want to keep it going for as long as possible. The attention might be constant. But Jamie Vardy isnt close to being tired of it just yet.Jamie Vardy trains fast in Nike Football Training apparel, built for speed with revolutionary AeroSwift technology. Visit nike.com to explore the collection. Also See: Vardy on Ballon dOr list Who will win the title? Paulo Orlando Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Alcides Escobar Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Royals-Frank-White-Kids-Jersey/ . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Wily Peralta Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Lucas Duda Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Sydney FC deserve to be top of the A-League but owe a lot of their success this season to sheer luck, according to Brisbane Roar defender Jade North.Riding high on the back of a six-game winning streak, the Sky Blues take on the Roar - who are unbeaten in their last four games - at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.A win for the visitors will equal the best-ever start to an A-League season by any team, while third-placed Brisbane can reduce the margin between the sides to five points if they can produce an upset.However, as impressive as theyve been, North believes Sydney have been quite fortunate not to have let in more goals.Obviously Sydney are flying at the moment but having said that, theyve been quite lucky as well, not conceding as many as I thought they maybe should have, North told reporters on Tuesday.They deserve to be where they are but Perth were a little bit unlucky on the weekend with a couple of chances.But youve got to ride your luck sometimes. Theyve been quite dominnant in the front third.ddddddddddddBoth sides should be at full strength, with Brisbane to regain striker Jamie Maclaren, who made his competitive debut for the Socceroos in Tuesday nights 2-2 draw with Thailand.Sydney has won just three times in 17 attempts at Suncorp Stadium but wont be taking any notice of history after setting two new records - the longest winning sequence in club history, and the most goals (17) scored by any team in the first six rounds of a season.Asked if the Sky Blues would be Brisbanes biggest test this season, North said: To this point in time, it will be.Weve got some great players all over the park and I feel we can really hurt them as well.Defensively weve been quite solid over the last month and when we start hitting teams and getting some confidence and getting goals, were not too far away from giving a team a good hiding. ' ' '