Thursday 29 September 2016 17:26, UK
Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy has admitted that he drinks port, Red Bull and double espressos before every game.
Vardy, 29, makes the remarkable admission within his new autobiography titled Jamie Vardy: From Nowhere, My Story.
Within the book, Vardy writes that the bizarre ritual began at the start of the 2013/14 Premier League season when the Foxes stayed up by the skin of their teeth, persisting through Leicester's victorious league campaign last year.
"At the start of the 2013/14 season I made some changes to my pre-match routine - and it's remained the same to this day," writes Vardy.
"Three Red Bulls, a double espresso and a cheese and ham omelette is what makes me run around like a nutjob on a match day.
"While we're waiting and killing a bit of time, I have a double espresso.
"We get into the dressing room an hour-and-a-half before kick-off, and I'll have a third can of Red Bull. But with this one I sip it all the way until we go out for the warm-up, leaving a bit to finish off when I come back in."
As well as Red Bull and double espressos, Vardy confesses that his 24 goals which helped power Leicester to the title last year were driven by drinking port out of a Lucozade bottle on the eve of games.
"I can't say why it started, because I genuinely don't know, but I decided to drink a glass of port on the eve of every game in the 2015/16 season," Vardy added.
"I'm not normally superstitious but from the moment I scored against Sunderland on the opening day, I didn't want to change anything.
"I fill a small plastic water or Lucozade bottle to halfway and just sip the port while watching television. It tastes like Ribena to me, and it helps me switch off and get to sleep a bit easier the night before a game."
Leicester have had a mixed start to their title defence and currently sit in 12th position in the league after three defeats, one draw and two wins from their opening six fixtures.
They have picked up two victories from their opening two Champions League games however, away at Club Brugge and at home against Porto on Tuesday night.
Claudio Ranieri's Foxes next face Southampton in the Premier League at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
