Jonny Evans gives injury update ahead of Leicester City games against Manchester United and PSV

Playing two games in quick succession is too risky for Jonny Evans at the moment as he prepares to start for Northern Ireland on Friday night.

The Leicester City centre-back made his first appearance since mid-December at the weekend, coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 victory over Brentford. That prompted a late international call-up, following conversations between City manager Brendan Rodgers, Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough, and Adam Sadler, who works as a coach for both.

However, it’s not the case that Evans will be pushed too hard too soon, with the 34-year-old to be assessed at half-time in Friday’s friendly with Luxembourg to see how he is coping. Then, he will drop out of the squad, playing no part in their game against Hungary next Tuesday.

That will allow him to train with City leading up to next weekend’s clash at Old Trafford against his former club Manchester United. Whether he would be fit enough by then to follow it up with an appearance in Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg against PSV remains to be seen.

Evans did reveal that he actually returned to training with City a week earlier than expected after recovering from an operation on his hamstring, and that training with Northern Ireland over the past couple of days has him feeling good.

"Brendan Rodgers spoke to me on Friday afternoon and asked if I was able to play at the weekend against Brentford and maybe get some minutes from the bench,” Evans said. “That opened up the possibility of coming away with Northern Ireland.

“I probably wasn't meant to train with Leicester until this week, but I've been able to come away with the boys and get some minutes on Friday night. I will start the game and assess how I feel at half time.