New Fleetwood striker Nadesan admits he is inspired by Jamie Vardy

Nadesan, 21, has fired in 99 goals for Surrey-based Combined Counties Premier Division side Horley Town in the last two campaigns.

The McDonald’s worker has had trials at Town’s fellow League One outfit Millwall and Premier League side Norwich in April and was reportedly being tracked by Premier League winners Leicester City and Bournemouth.

But Nadesan has family in Blackpool and has opted to join Fleetwood and it is hoped he can follow in former Fleetwood player and title-winning Leicester forward Jamie Vardy’s prolific footsteps.

But the striker says he does not want to be the next Vardy, instead he wants to be ‘the first Ashley Nadesan’ and is eager to score even more goals in the Football League.

He said: “Jamie Vardy is an inspiration, especially with what he has done people are trying to compare me to him but I don’t want to put that pressure on myself.

“I’d rather not be the next Jamie Vardy but the first Ashley Nadesan.

“Hopefully I can score goals and my pace through on goal has been decent over the last couple of seasons.

“I’m buzzing. After all the speculation of where I was going I am so happy that I have finally signed a contract.

“I first heard of the interest (from Fleetwood) maybe a couple of months ago and then it spiralled and people started talking and then suddenly an offer just came in and it was quality and I had to accept it because Fleetwood are such a quality team.

“I’m so happy, Fleetwood is a top quality club and I literally could not turn down the opportunity.

“They have opened up a new (£8.5m) training facility as well and I just can’t wait until the season starts and to start playing football again.”

And the striker praised his former club Horley Town and his manager Anthony Jupp for helping him hit the net 99 times.

“He said: “The past two seasons have been incredible. My (former) manager Anthony Jupp has played me where I wanted to which is sort of up front or out wide depending on the team.

“The team around me has played some quality football and put me through and helped me to get the 99 goals in two seasons that I did.

“It is a shame that I didn’t get the 100 but I will save that for Fleetwood.”

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