Socceroos boss Graham Arnold: Jamie Maclaren our Jamie Vardy
Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren shares the same name as England sharpshooter Jamie Vardy and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says that’s not where the similarities end between the pair.
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Jamie Maclaren has been nicknamed “Jamie Vardy” by Graham Arnold, and the Socceroos coach says the striker’s international breakthrough epitomises his team’s new depth.
The Melbourne City star’s form, scoring 24 goals in 27 City games since signing in January 2019, has coincided with a purple patch of five goals in six Socceroos games.
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Arnold was confident Maclaren’s star would continue to rise this year.
“I call Jamie Maclaren Jamie Vardy, very similar in that style,’’ he said.
“We’ve got two different type of strikers. Jamie Maclaren is one that makes runs into space in behind. (Adam) Taggart is more of a combination player, where you can play it to his feet, lay it off and bring other players into the game.
“We have options, it’s about giving people opportunity. Right across the team, players feel like they’ve had an opportunity and players take it, I look at Jamie.”
Maclaren, 26, who trails Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre by two in the A-League golden boot race, was chuffed with the nickname.
“Arnie likes to reference certain players with different people and I guess my style is quite similar to Vardy’s. I take it as a compliment,” he said.
“He’s a fantastic striker, someone I played against at Fleetwood when I was at Blackburn under-21s, he was banging in goals there.
“He had the workrate then, hasn’t changed, whether he’s a Fleetwood player or a Premier League winner with Leicester, he’s a huge worker. From zero (minutes) to 90, he’s flat out, in the defenders’ faces, being a pest. To see him progress to what he’s done is unreal.’’
Maclaren’s City is desperate to atone for the pre-Christmas derby loss to Melbourne Victory when the sides meet again at AAMI Park on Friday.