Leicester suffer injury blow as Jonny Evans limps out of warm-up prior to Newcastle defeat just EIGHT days before their FA Cup final with Chelsea amid a tough run-in to seal a Champions League spot

  • Jonny Evans limped out of Leicester City's warm-up before playing Newcastle 
  • The centre-back picked up a heel injury and was replaced by Marc Albrighton 
  • The blow comes eight days before the Foxes' crucial FA Cup final with Chelsea
  • Leicester also face Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs in the league in May

Leicester City have been dealt a blow to their season run-in as Jonny Evans limped off before the Foxes' 4-2 defeat by Newcastle on Friday night with a heel injury. 

The Northern Irishman was named in Brendan Rodgers' starting eleven for the Premier League clash but limped out just minutes before kick-off after picking up a knock. 

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Evans, who was replaced in the team by Marc Albrighton which forced a formation change for Leicester, had been struggling with a heel problem in recent weeks but has played in the Foxes' last six league matches. 

Leicester have been dealt a blow after Jonny Evans limped out of a warm-up with Newcastle
Evans (left) picked up a heel injury at the King Power Stadium and had to be replaced

Rodgers and Leicester may now be without their experienced centre-half for the final few weeks of the season which sees them play four 'Big Six' sides, including Chelsea in the FA Cup final in eight days' time.  

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The Foxes also have an important few weeks in the league as they look to seal a spot in the Champions League for just the second time in their history. 

Leicester went into Friday night's encounter with the Magpies five points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham with four games to go. And they missed the chance to go eight points clear of the Hammers with the Magpies going 4-0 up before being pegged back to 4-2. 

Evans' injury is a blow for Brendan Rodgers' (left) side just eight day before their FA Cup final

After the game Rodgers said of Evans' injury: 'The blow of Jonny not playing (was difficult) because he is such a great organiser for us.

'We have been managing it (the injury) and he has come through really well.

'He was in a lot of pain on Thursday but woke up feeling a bit better and it seemed fine but as he was coming in to get ready he felt it and was in a lot of discomfort.'

The Foxes' fixture list is daunting between now and the end of the season, with trips to Manchester United and Chelsea coming before the visit of Tottenham on the final day of the season. 

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Leicester's cup final with Chelsea is their first appearance at that stage of the competition in 52 years and Evans will be desperate to make that May 15 fixture.

The 33-year-old has never lifted the FA Cup in his career, despite winning three league titles and the 2008 Champions League with Manchester United. 

Evans has been a regular fixture at the back for the Foxes, making 36 appearances in all competitions for Rodgers' side, scoring twice.