Jamie Vardy can join Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Ruud van Nistelrooy by becoming only eighth Premier League player to net in seven consecutive games

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Jamie Vardy has scored in six consecutive Premier League games
The Leicester striker netted twice in their 2-2 draw at Southampton
Vardy faces Crystal Palace on Saturday at the King Power Stadium
Seven players have scored in seven straight Premier League games
Ruud van Nistelrooy tops the list with 10 for Manchester United in 2003

Published: 03:54 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 15:36 EST, 21 October 2015

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Nigel Pearson had to convince Jamie Vardy to stay at Leicester City at the conclusion of the first season after making him the most expensive non-League player in history.

The striker, plucked from Fleetwood Town for £1million plus add-ons, hit a slump in form in the Championship and was being heavily criticised by Leicester's supporters three years ago.

It was Pearson, and his assistant Craig Shakespeare, who convinced Vardy he had the ability to make it at the highest level – a level he has only reached following the departure of his former manager.

Jamie Vardy netted twice against Southampton at the weekend as Leicester City salvaged a draw

Vardy has scored in six consecutive Premier League matches for Leicester and will be seeking even more

Four months after Pearson's sacking Vardy is on the verge of joining some esteemed company.

The 28-year-old will move alongside Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Mark Stein, Emmanuel Adebayor, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Daniel Sturridge as only the eighth player to score in seven consecutive Premier League games, should he net against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Slight of build and only 5ft 10in, Vardy was released by Sheffield Wednesday for being too small when he was 16 years old, yet trawling through semi-professional leagues for the majority of his career has honed a lean, explosive power which belies his height and frame, coupled with greyhound-like pace and a sharp finish that top-flight defenders are finding impossible to stop.

Consider the level of opposition in Leicester's next set of fixtures and there is no reason that run will be halted any time soon. After Palace, they are away to West Brom, host Watford then travel to Newcastle.

Suddenly, Van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in 10 in a row and the former Manchester United striker's other run of eight, which was matched by Sturridge, do not seem so out of reach.

Vardy was overlooked for the Barclays Premier League Player of the Month award for September, despite scoring four goals in three matches, two of those against Arsenal. It went to Manchester United teenager Anthony Martial instead, who netted three in that period – but not even his own supporters agreed with the verdict and named Juan Mata as the club's player of the month.

Ruud van Nistelrooy tops the list after scoring in 10 consecutive games for Manchester United in 2003

Daniel Sturridge is behind Van Nistelrooy after netting in eight consecutive matches for Liverpool

Vardy has been recognised by England manager Roy Hodgson – he now has four caps – but if he remains relatively under the radar he could be on course to become an unlikely hero for the national team in next year's Euro 2016 tournament.

Leicester have a history of late developers flourishing in an England shirt. Gary Lineker did not play for the national team until he was almost 25 and went on to become one of their top scorers. Spend time with Lineker and he will explain that he would not have believed someone if they had told him in his early 20s he would even receive one cap for his country.

'I am oozing confidence,' Vardy declared after his double secured a point from falling two behind by half-time against Southampton. 'But we just need to keep it going. It is nothing to do with me, really. It is a team game and as long as Leicester keep getting the points that is all that matters.

'The team has put me in the position to score the goals and the whole squad has been a massive help to me. Hopefully, it will continue and we will keep getting the points week in and week out.'

Vardy may be modestly playing down a contribution which has helped Leicester towards the top of the table, but he needs no-one to convince him of his talent now.