London - Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy's lack of experience at major international tournaments means he will not be an automatic starter for England at Euro 2016, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said.
The 29-year-old forward, who has scored three goals in seven internationals, was the joint second-highest scorer in the Premier League during Leicester's title-winning season and was the Football Writers' Association player of the year.
Arsenal, runners-up last season, are trying to sign Vardy, triggering a release clause in his contract with a bid of about 20 million pounds ($29.1 million), British media reported.
“I don't think that he will be a starter. I don't say this because he does not have the quality, but because he doesn't have enough experience at that level to say the whole tournament will depend on Vardy,” Wenger told beIN Sports.
Vardy is preparing for Euro 2016 in France, which starts on Friday, at England's training base in Chantilly. Roy Hodgson's side open their Group B campaign against Russia on Saturday before facing Wales and Slovakia.
Reuters