Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has backed Jamie Vardy to end his goal drought after admitting the striker even lost his scoring touch in training.
The England forward had failed to score in his last 14 games for the Foxes, a run stretching back to September 10.
This time last year he was about to break the Premier League scoring record, on November 28, when he netted in his 11th straight game during a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
Vardy's 24 goals helped the Foxes to a shock title last season but he has scored just four times this term, including one in England's 2-2 draw with Spain this month.
Vardy had a goal disallowed for offside in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge and Ranieri believes - ahead of the visit of Middlesbrough on Saturday - the 29-year-old will return to his best.
"He has started to also score in training session and that is good news because also, in the training, he didn't score so well. He has restarted and is very close to scoring," said Ranieri.
"Jamie is always normal, the same last season. You don't see him nervous or frustrated. No, he's always the same at the training ground.
"Jamie is very important for us and now if he doesn't score that means he doesn't score until now, but now he started.
"I think everybody covers him very carefully and, also, (Riyad) Mahrez is not a surprise for teams because everybody is very worried about him. That is the big problem.
"But sooner or later Vardy will come back. I speak every day with him. He is very calm, very concentrated in his job, to work for the team. I say every time, his job is important. The goal can arrive or not, but his job is important."
Source: PA
