Football
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Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri: Jamie Vardy rested, not dropped

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri stressed that star striker Jamie Vardy was rested rather than dropped for the home win over Crystal Palace.

Vardy, who came on as a substitute in Saturday's 3-1 victory, has now failed to score in his last 10 appearances for club and country.

It was the first time the England international, who scored 24 goals in last season's title-winning campaign, had not started a Premier League game when available.

But Ranieri said he wanted to keep him fresh as the Foxes juggle their Champions League and Premier League campaigns.

"It's normal because we have to play so many matches," he said.

"All the matches are important and when you see [Shinji] Okazaki and [Ahmed] Musa in training I have to put them on the pitch.

"It wasn't injury -- if he was injured he wouldn't have come with me on the bench.

"I don't know if he needed a rest but if I don't have Shinji, Musa and [Leonardo] Ulloa then maybe I have to play him. But when you have some good players it's right to have a rest.

"Always I tinker. When we play every few days it's important to choose the right player, and this time I left Vardy and [Marc] Albrighton out."

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