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Former Leicester manager Dean Smith says he tried to sign Jamie Vardy for his current club FC Charlotte and has paid tribute to his former assistant Craig Shakespeare.

Smith, 53, had hoped to bring Vardy to the United States with him but believes the Foxes' promotion denied him the chance of tempting the 37-year-old marksman to Major League Soccer.

When asked about his former striker at the US Bank Stadium in Charlotte, where his Charlotte team play, Smith said: “I did text him and see if he wanted to come over to America, but I knew that was going to be hard once he took Leicester back to the Premier League.

“It's just his enthusiasm for the game, he doesn't train as much as he used to and he won't get as many minutes as he used to, but if he's used right he'll be really, really good [this season]. You saw the goals he scored in the Championship last year.”

Smith also paid tribute to Shakespeare who was his long-time assistant at both Leicester and Aston Villa in the Premier League but has passed away last week aged 60.

He added: "Craig was a very close friend of mine. As are [his wife] Karen, [and kids] Elle and Jed. It's been a really tough time over the last nine or ten months. He was taken too soon from us.

“I can't speak highly enough of him. I was actually his boot boy at Walsall and we played together there. He then became a coach with me at Aston Villa, Norwich and Leicester. I am just heartbroken that he's been taken too soon from us.

“As a coach, the way he was with players and people, he got the best out of them. He knew and understood the game really well. He was instrumental in Leicester winning the Premier League. He was instrumental with players like Harry Maguire, who he signed at Leicester.

“There are so many players who have sent so many messages to the family, Jack Grealish included. I spoke to John Terry the other day and he was heartbroken, as we all are.

“He will be remembered by me for his humbleness but also his humour. He was the best-timed comedian ever and at times even through his illness he would make fun of cancer, and that was the sort of guy he was.”