Maidstone United’s on-loan Leicester City defender Paul Appiah on learning from Jamie Vardy and Wesley Fofana and gaining experience in men’s football

Maidstone loan signing Paul Appiah already knows what it’s like to face the best non-league football has to offer - step forward Jamie Vardy.

The Leicester City youngster has trained with Vardy, the striker who went from Conference football at Fleetwood to a Premier League champion with the Foxes in just four years.

It was quite an eye-opener for the centre-back when he joined in first-team training following his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022.

As well as being a great test, former England international Vardy proved a big support for a young defender making his way in the under-21s.

“Vardy’s a handful,” said Appiah, who made his Maidstone debut as a second-half substitute at St Albans in National League South on Saturday.

“You’ve got to check your shoulders with him - you can’t miss him.

“If you take your eye off him for a second he’ll catch you in behind but training with him is good.

“Vardy’s one of those players in the first team where he puts his arm around the young players, he helps them, he gets them through a session.

“He wants us to show our personality.

“I remember one of my first sessions with him.

“He said I shouldn’t be afraid to put a challenge on him, so he wants the young ones to do well.

“That’s just how it is with the players - they know what it’s like coming up through the ranks, so they’re supportive.”

A player no longer with Leicester also made an impression on Appiah after joining the 2016 Premier League champions.

He teamed up with Wesley Fofana in training, the Frenchman who went on to join Chelsea for a reported £70 million fee.

“When I first joined last season, Wes Fofana was like an older brother to me,” said Appiah.

“He was just about to leave but during pre-season I spent a lot