Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans is excited to embark on a new challenge after linking up with his Leicester team-mates for pre-season.

The versatile defender was heavily linked with a move to the Foxes in January but West Brom rejected their advances in the hope that he could help them to beat the drop.

However, the Baggies suffered relegation from the Premier League and Leicester returned to get their man this summer.

Evans has spent the last three weeks taking time off with his family before finally taking part in his first pre-season training session on Monday.

Leicester, who are priced at 15.00 to be relegated next season, struggled for consistency in 2017-18 and had to settle for ninth place, seven points shy of Burnley, who finished seventh and earned a spot in the Europa League.

The 30-year-old says he has been building his fitness up over the summer and admits he is excited to get going with the new season.

Evans told Leicester’s official website: “While I’ve been away, the fitness lads have been keeping me up-to-date with the programmes and emailing stuff through for me to keep on top of my fitness.

“I had a little bit of an idea it was going to be a tough start and a few of the lads have warned me… Danny Simpson had said to me that it’s quite a tough run on the first day.

“I’ve heard quite a lot about the Club over the years and, from speaking to the lads, I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead,”