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Jamie Vardy has scored 11 goals in his past nine Premier League games for Leicester

Leicester will have to rest striker Jamie Vardy during a "nonsense" festive schedule, says boss Brendan Rodgers.

Vardy, 32, has not missed a Premier League game this season and is the division's top scorer with 16 goals.

Leicester, who are second, play at Manchester City on Saturday, then host leaders Liverpool on 26 December, before trips to West Ham two days later and Newcastle on 1 January.

"The players aren't robots, it's not a computer game," said Rodgers.

Vardy has been key to Leicester's surge since Rodgers took charge in February.

He has 28 league goals in 2019 - five more than any other player - while the Foxes are also in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, as well as being the nearest challengers to Liverpool for the title.

On 4 January, three days after the Newcastle match, Leicester host Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round.

Asked whether Vardy could cope with the demands of such a schedule, Rodgers replied: "No chance. You cannot risk the fitness of a player.

"You play on the 26th, a high-intensity game against Liverpool, fighting for the result.

"You get that first day of recovery - but it's the second day where it's really tough for a player.

"If we go along that route then the second day, instead of recovering, we're kicking off at 5.30pm at West Ham.

"It's just nonsense really."