Leicester City 1 Manchester United 1: Five things we learned as Jamie Vardy breaks goalscoring record

It was destined to happen, said Claudio Ranieri on Thursday. Jamie Vardy, who made carbon fibre splints for collapsed foot arches after being rejected by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager, needed just 24 frenetic minutes to fulfil his manager’s prophecy.

The ex-Stocksbridge Steels striker, almost certain to be on the plane for the European Championships, typifies the boyish endeavour which has transformed Leicester City from relegation favourites to unlikely title contenders.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record is lost to history, but Vardy’s scintillating form continues to hurtle towards unchartered territory. The 28-year-old destroyed Manchester United last year too, having a part to play in all of Leicester’s goals in that now famous 5-3 demolition.

Louis van Gaal, the United boss, was coy when quizzed about his chances of signing Vardy in midweek, telling reporters to mind their own business in an exchange which all but confirmed his interest.

The Foxes, though, have every right to demand a fee in excess of £30m for the man behind the biggest story in English football right now. Despite being 28-years-old, the East Midlands outfit are reported to be confident of securing an astronomical fee for Vardy – if indeed they sell up.

Ranieri reminded the likes of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez this week that Leicester have grand designs of their own, however, insisting there is no need to leave if they wish to challenge for major honours. As always, time will tell if the lure of a move away proves too great.

It will not have escaped the Manchester United supporters, crammed inside the tight away end, that Leicester’s opener was exactly the sort of goal they used to score.

With the attacking exploits of Mahrez, Vardy and Marc Albrighton to call on, the hosts have surged to the top of the table by executing a brand of football rarely seen since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Those halcyon days are lost to a bygone era - as the home supporters kindly reminded their guests. ‘Louis van Gaal, he sends you the sleep,’ they gleefully chanted at full-time.

On a day which saw 25 goals scored in six matches across the top flight’s Saturday schedule, the not-so Flying Dutchman provided little evidence that his possession-based philosophy will be scrapped any time soon.

Ask Van Gaal about the criticism of United’s playing style and he’ll remind you of the small metamorphosis he has performed on the squad he inherited from David Moyes.

But it is Leicester who continue to charm the neutrals in these uncertain and peculiar times. If Ferguson was a connoisseur of champagne football, then the current incumbent at Old Trafford is serving up warm bitter.

With his United counterpart glued to his seat in the away dugout, Ranieri barked orders to his swashbuckling side on the sidelines with the sort of vigour a man twenty years his junior would struggle to muster.

The affable Italian has warmed the hearts of football fans across the country, regardless of their affiliation, as he masterminds one of the most remarkable stories of the (admittedly youthful) campaign so far.

The quirky 64-year-old was greeted like yesterday’s man when he was appointed in July, roundly mocked for his ill-fated spell in charge of Greece; a tenure which saw them even lose to the Faroe Islands.

Question his credentials and Ranieri can brandish a glittering CV which includes reigns at Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan and Monaco. But he rarely does. The former Chelsea boss carries himself with the sort of unassuming respect preferred by new-starters to the management scene, not seasoned pros.

As Leicester returned to the summit, going level on points with Manchester City, their manager was typically graceful, reminding reporters he is still targeting the 40 points he believes will guarantee survival.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side currently edge out the Foxes on goal-difference, but if the season were to end this evening, few would begrudge Ranieri the Manager of the Year award. Times change fast in football.

While Van Gaal’s game plan to nullify Vardy’s threat, clear as day, with a three-man defence failed spectacularly to start with, the danger posed by Leicester’s war horse was limited to occasional bursts rather than an endless blitz.

United continue to boast the stingiest defence in the division following this tight, if occasionally scrappy, draw at a bouncing King Power Stadium, marshalling the hosts into submission towards the end.

Chris Smalling, a man long considered a casualty of the Moyes era, has since cemented his status as the Red Devils’ most reliable defender in recent months. Caught on the counter-attack often, United were left with just Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young toiling to catch the unassailable Vardy for Leicester’s goal, but they wisely leant heavily on Smalling’s talents for the rest of the match.

Shinji Okazaki, a pest for any defence, was pushed out of the match by the England defender in spite of his boundless energy, forcing the Japan international off for Leonardo Ulloa in the second half.

United’s impotent attack may well give Van Gall sleepless nights as the cold winter months close in, but he can at least settle down in front of the fire with clips of Smalling’s recent displays. “Better than last year though,” he joked, leaving the press conference room.

The polar opposite to their visitors, Leicester have literally fired their way to the top, and are yet to draw a blank this season as their explosive start continues.

With punters pouring money on them to be relegated just five months ago, a sea change in public opinion has seen the Foxes’ title odds shrink from 2000-1 to just 150-1.

That may still place them as rank outsiders, something Ranieri is keen to stress also, but the transformation from plucky underdogs to battle-primed wolves suggests European football could yet be staged in the East Midlands next year.

"I think we are building a very good construction here," Ranieri said. "I understand if somebody wants to go but I believe in the next year Leicester, slowly, slowly, can grow up and battle with the top.

"At the moment we're very happy and also Jamie is happy with us. He can continue to show his strength with us. Him, Mahrez, everybody.

"This is our project. I spoke to the owners in July [about challenging at the top]. People believe in me – I believe in me too."