Captain Ndidi marks his return from injury by helping Leicester take the lead in loss to Man Utd

Leicester City crashed out of this season's Emirates FA Cup following a 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Friday night.

In terms of team news, Wilfred Ndidi's inclusion in the starting lineup was the headline and he was joined by former Italy U21 international of Nigerian descent, Caleb Okoli.

Wearing the captain's armband, it was Ndidi's first game for the Foxes since suffering a hamstring injury during a 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove on December 8, 2024.

With four minutes left in the first half, Leicester City deservedly took the lead when Bobby De Cordova-Reid headed in the rebound after Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana saved Ndidi's effort with his feet.

Two minutes before the hour mark, Leicester City coach Ruud van Nistelrooy made a double change, one of which saw Ndidi make way for Harry Winks.

The change appeared to be pre-planned and had nothing to do with Ndidi's performance, given that this was his first game in two months for Leicester City.

It looked like substitute Alejandro Garnacho was going to get Manchester United back into the game but Okoli made an incredible block on the line to deny the Argentina international.

Midway into the second half, Joshua Zirkzee guided the ball into the net to pull the Red Devils level.

Manchester United won it right at the end and it was the former Leicester City player Harry Maguire who dumped his old team out of the FA Cup, heading in a controversial stoppage time winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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