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Jamie Vardy played without cast for Leicester’s Champions League clash with Brugge

JAMIE VARDY'S arm guard was one of the biggest mysteries in last season's Premier League - but the striker's decision to bin in tonight paid off as they brushed aside Club Brugge.

Fans have been wondering tonight why he all of a sudden stopped wearing it tonight in the historic 3-0 Champions League victory in Belgium in the club's first ever game in the tournament.

Vardy shunned his trademark bandage tonight exactly a year on from when he first wore it
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Vardy shunned his trademark bandage tonight exactly a year on from when he first wore itCredit: Getty Images
Bandage-less Vardy was a constant menace to the Brugge defence on Tuesday
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Bandage-less Vardy was a constant menace to the Brugge defence on TuesdayCredit: EPA
The injury was sustained a year ago against Aston Villa and he felt the need to take it off tonight
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The injury was sustained a year ago against Aston Villa and he felt the need to take it off tonightCredit: PA:Press Association

On Saturday he wore it as usual, scoring his second of the season as Claudio Ranieri's Foxes lost 4-1 to Liverpool at Anfield.

But the answer could be down to a mix of timing and superstition.

He has worn the arm protection ever since he fractured three bones in his arm exactly a year ago yesterday in the 3-2 home victory against Aston Villa, where he scored in the 82nd minute.

It was the start of a magnificent title-winning season for Leicester during which he scored 22 goals, so 366 days later taking it off could be a symbolic way of letting it go.

But the story of how he got said injury in the first place goes back to when he was a much less prolific forward playing for Leicester in the season they won the Championship title.

According to the ,  when during a day out in Blackpool, he decided to have a go on one of the punching machines in one of the seaside town's many arcades.

He went in too hard in his typical full-blooded style, hitting the backboard and breaking a bone in his right hand.

The wrist strength of Vardy was tested at time tonight when he fell over a challenge onto his hands
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The wrist strength of Vardy was tested at time tonight when he fell over a challenge onto his handsCredit: Getty Images
Vardy was made to colour code the bandage hence the white when he played for England
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Vardy was made to colour code the bandage hence the white when he played for EnglandCredit: Getty Images
Vardy first sustained the wrist problem three years ago at a Blackpool arcade
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Vardy first sustained the wrist problem three years ago at a Blackpool arcadeCredit: Reuters

The injury was aggravated during the Villa game and the striker strapped up his wrist from then on to protect it - having been told he must have it ion the same colour as his kit, hence why he had a white one when playing for England at Euro 2016.

But he obviously saw fit to go without his trusty bandage tonight and was constantly a threat to Brugge in behind, his raw pace drawing fouls for both of Riyad Mahrez's goals ,a free-kick and a penalty.

Earlier, Marc Albrighton had the honour of scoring the Foxes’ first-ever goal in Europe’s top competition as he slid in to convert a long throw after just five minutes.

 

 

 

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