Evans injects dose of reality into Leicester fans' title dreams

Three-time Premier League-winning defender Jonny Evans moved to calm rising expectations among Leicester fans that the club can repeat their fairytale title win of 2016, saying the hectic Christmas period will give a more realistic picture.

The 31-year-old Northern Irish international -- who won his three league winners medals with Manchester United -- has played an integral role in the Foxes' superb form this term under compatriot Brendan Rodgers.

Their impressive 2-0 win over an out-of-form Arsenal on Saturday lifted them to second in the table, eight points off leaders Liverpool.

However, Evans -- who joined Leicester from West Bromwich Albion for ?3.5 million ($4.5 million) in June last year -- is too experienced a head to allow early season form to lull him into believing a genuine title challenge is a cast-iron certainty.

"I don't think you'll be able to judge that until after Christmas when we're getting into it," he said.

"We know how seasons can finish. It'll be tough. We need a big squad to do that, and all firing in the right directions.

"We've shown we can battle games out but we've just got to do what we're doing and see where it takes us.

"It's still really early on in the season. If you look at it there's still teams like Sheffield United sitting fifth. So we know it's going to be a long season and every team can beat everyone."