Should they beat the Blues, the young Foxes would become only the second ever City side to make it to the semi-finals of the competition, with that achievement last coming in 1987.
Leicester’s path to the last-eight hasn’t been an easy one. Home victories over Wigan Athletic and Chesterfield – both by a 1-0 scoreline – were followed by a 2-0 fifth round triumph over a highly-rated Southampton side at St. Mary’s Stadium.
“I think we’re all looking forward to it – the players will certainly be,” Jon told Foxes Player. “It’s a terrific competition, and a great occasion for them to step out at King Power Stadium in front of what we hope will be a big crowd to cheer them on.
“It’s a competition that’s got great tradition and heritage in English football, so everybody’s looking forward to it.
“The competition goes back to the beginning of the season with a lot of the qualifying rounds. We came into it just before Christmas, and it’s one that you always look forward to.
“It’s a different part of the games programme for the young players playing at the stadium under the lights in a midweek fixture. It could even go to penalties, so it’s an exciting tie.
“Every club sets out to go and win the competition, but ultimately it’s a great learning curve for the players, and it’s one that they’ll cherish in years to come. It’s good for the staff to see them in that type of environment, and how they handle the occasions. It’s very different to a Saturday morning game.”
Having already earned the support of Academy graduates and leading up to the match, the youngsters also received some kind words from Club Ambassador and .
“If you speak with some of the senior footballers who are now playing in Leicester City’s first team, they’ll all have really fond memories of that excitement of playing within the Youth Cup – they can relate back to it,” Jon added.
“Some will have positive memories, and I’m sure they’ll all agree that that was a big part of their progress and experience when they finally stepped out at first team level.
“It’s a great boost for them. As a Football Club, we’ve always seen great support. Even on the nights you’ll see a number of the first team players coming down and supporting the boys. It’s terrific. They come into the dressing room to wish them well, along with the manager and his senior coaching staff.
“It’s an evening where people can come along. It’s a great chance to show those current first team lads what’s coming up through the ranks at the Academy. It’s a great challenge for the youngsters to aspire to become like their peers as well.”
Season Ticket Holders can attend for FREE, but are advised to activate their season cards ahead of kick-off in order to avoid queueing.
Jon said: “It’s a great opportunity for people to come down and show their support. It’s a 7pm kick-off, so it’s not too late. Fans can bring the youngsters along as well to cheer on the boys, and to hear those voices coming from the stands is great.”
Full ticket information for this evening’s FA Youth Cup tie can be found .