Blades no joke for Harry

HARRY MAGUIRE has been on the receiving end of Jamie Vardy’s teasing this week as Leicester prepare to face the defender’s former club Sheffield United tonight.

The Leicester teammates both hail from Sheffield and it has emerged that Vardy likes to have a dig at his friend over his football loyalties.

Both were raised as Wednesday fans but Maguire became more of a United supporter when coming through the academy at Bramall Lane and then breaking into the senior side. Ahead of the fifth-round tie, Vardy has been reminding the centrehalf of his Wednesday roots.

“He always plays around saying that,” said Maguire. “When I was a young boy, my dad supported Sheffield Wednesday and my mum was a Sheffield United fan.

“When I was around 10, my dad used to take me to a couple of games but ever since I played for United I’ve supported them.

“I played for them when I was 11. I was a ball boy week in, week out until I was 16 or 17. Then, I broke into the team and made my debut. I definitely follow Sheffield United now. They are a great club and I thank them as they have done so much for my career.”

Maguire, who was sold to Hull in 2014 before joining Leicester in a £17million deal last year, said: “It’s a big game for myself to come up against a team I’ve played for. I keep in touch with a lot of the players.

“To draw United at home is not just big for me, it’s a big game for the team in a great cup we want to go far in.”