Manager is ‘hopeful’ that Evans will be fit

LEICESTER City manager Brendan Rodgers has delivered an update on the potential availability of defender Jonny Evans for tomorrow’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, writes Jordan Blackwell.

The centre-back was fighting to be fit with City set to compete in the final for the first time in 52 years.

Evans has missed the last two league games with a heel injury after limping back into the changing room following the warm-up against Newcastle United on Friday night.

The Northern Irishman was replaced by Marc Albrighton in the starting line-up for that game.

He was left out of the squad for the 2-1 win over Manchester United on Tuesday night as he fought to be fit for the trip to Wembley Stadium.

Evans has been a key player for City over the last few weeks, scoring against West Bromwich Albion and Southampton as well as completing a match-saving tackle in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last month.

Those performances were despite the defender carrying an injury, which was being managed.

Foxes fans have been keeping their fingers crossed that Evans would make it back to be able to play alongside Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu against Chelsea.

At his pre-match press conference, Rodgers said of Evans: “We’ll give him another day. He’s progressed really well in this last 24 hours.

“He was outside today and he looked very good.

“We’ll see what the reaction is after that and we’ll make the final decision on that tomorrow (Friday). We’re really hopeful.

“It’s a discussion between myself and Jonny. Ultimately, you’ve got to speak with the players.

“He’s a warrior, and if there’s any which way he can play, even if he’s not 100 per cent, he’ll be out there.

“I also have to balance that in that it’s a huge game, it’s going to be a physical game, so we need physicality in the team, and good running ability.

“If that’s hindered in anyway, it may make it difficult for him. We’ve got 24 hours so we’ll see how he goes.”