![\"Jake](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_Jake-Evans-9.jpg\")
Jake Evans could be back in the Leicester City squad to take on Sheffield United(Image: Plumb Images\/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\nThe latest Leicester City injury news ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane, where Marti Cifuentes is hoping to get revenge after the 3-2 loss to the Blades in NovemberJake Evans could be back in the Leicester City squad to take on Sheffield United(Image: Plumb Images\/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Leicester City could be without nine senior players against Sheffield United, but calling on academy lads to fill the gaps could give them an \u201cedge\u201d.<\/p>\n
City<\/a> could be missing a host of players through injury, international commitments, and imminent departures at Bramall Lane on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n Boubakary Soumare, Victor Kristiansen and Harry Souttar are definitely out with injury while Aaron Ramsey and Hamza Choudhury look set to join them on the sidelines<\/a> after limping out of the 2-1 win over Derby.<\/p>\n City also have centre-back Jannik Vestergaard who is touch-and-go to return to the squad after missing the past two games with a head knock.<\/p>\n The fixture against the Blades could come too soon for Patson Daka,<\/a> whose involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations ended on Monday, while fellow striker Julian Carranza seems unlikely to be included ahead of his switch to Mexico.<\/a><\/p>\n Harry Winks has been left out of the squad for the past six games and it seems there is no route back into the fold for the midfielder.<\/p>\n If all nine of the above are unavailable, Marti Cifuentes will have to turn to academy players. Even if Jake Evans is recalled to the squad, there would still be two gaps to be filled on the bench.<\/p>\n Wanya Marcal, who has been struggling with injury this season, has been back in training recently and could be an option.<\/p>\n If Cifuentes wanted an attacking midfielder to cope with Ramsey\u2019s absence, then Logan Briggs has been a consistent performer for the Under-21s. If more defensive cover is craved, then centre-back Kevon Gray could be an option.<\/p>\n Against Derby, six players from the academy featured<\/a> with Choudhury, Jakub Stolarczyk, Ben Nelson and Luke Thomas all starting, with Jeremy Monga and Louis Page coming off the bench.<\/p>\n Silko Thomas also completed his development in City\u2019s youth ranks after arriving on a free transfer from Chelsea a few years ago.<\/p>\n Cifuentes does feel that having homegrown players on the pitch can give City an edge.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve shown they will have opportunities as long as we think it\u2019s the right moment for them,\u201d the manager said. \u201cThey deserve those chances.<\/p>\n \u201c(Derby) was a good example of them jumping in during a moment that was not easy as Derby were trying to equalise and there was a lot of pressure after the last week. They coped really well. It\u2019s good experience for all of them.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me to see that we had six or seven players on the pitch from the academy, that gives us an edge.\u201d<\/p>\n The focus ahead of the first game of 2026 will be on how City start the game. When they hosted Sheffield United at the end of November, they found themselves 2-0 down inside four minutes, eventually losing 3-2 after a spirited second-half comeback attempt.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives me even more hunger, even more energy, to face this game,\u201d Cifuentes added. \u201cI\u2019m angry with what happened the last time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys showed (against Derby) the kind of mentality and effort we need to put into it to win games in this league. I\u2019m sure everybody will be eager to have a completely different performance.\u201d<\/p>\n The latest Leicester City headlines sent straight to your phone<\/p>\n Get the latest Leicester City news sent straight to your phone by joining our Foxes WhatsApp community. Just click here<\/a> and select \u2018Join Community\u2019 to get started.<\/strong><\/p>\n No one will be able to see your personal information in the community and you will only receive messages from the LeicestershireLive sports team. We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest City stories. All you need to participate in this free service is to have WhatsApp on your phone.<\/strong><\/p>\n If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and then ‘Exit Group’. It’s as simple as that. You can read our Privacy Notice HERE.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n