Leicester City make five changes to the side that beat Middlesbrough for this FA Cup fourth-round tie at Huddersfield.

Richie Wellens is given his first start of the season for City alongside Andy King in central midfield, who also returns to the starting line-up.

Lloyd Dyer replaces Anthony Knockaert, who had scored four times in two games against Huddersfield this season. He is left out of the squad to rest an ankle injury he has been nursing for a couple of weeks.

Jamie Vardy and Martyn Waghorn are paired in attack as Chris Wood and David Nugent are rested on the substitutes' bench, which also includes Danny Drinkwater.

6 min: Lee Novak fires in a free-kick from 30 yards out which strikes Wellens on the head. The City midfielder goes down for treatment. Welcome back to the action Richie!

11 min: A let-off for City. Wes Morgan concedes the corner and City fail to clear it and Novak heads over from close range.

21 min: City's first effort on goal. Waghorn fires in a snap-shot from 20 yards out which goes wide.

25 min: Ben Marshall's whipped-in free-kick from out wide is headed over his own bar by James Vaughan.

30 min: Jack Hunt slices a volley from the edge of the box, but City are giving Town too much space and time in midfield.

35 min: BOOKING Michael Keane booked for bringing down Vaughan. Looked harsh.

38 min: City get caught on the break and Novak beats the off-side trap but his finish is terrible.

45+1 min: It's half-time and City have been poor in the first half. They have been over-run in midfield and have barely threatened the Huddersfield goal.

H-T: Huddersfield 0 City 0

50 min: BOOKING Oliver Norwood is booked for a foul on King.

55 min: Great block from Morgan to deny Novak after good work from Hunt. City still have not raised their game in the 10 minutes since the start of the second half.

57 min: Vaughan tries an overhead kick after a spot of head tennis in the City box but his effort is straight at Kasper Schmeichel.

60 mins: A double substitution by manager Nigel Pearson as he tries to change the game. First-choice strike pair Wood and Nugent come on to replace Waghorn and Vardy.

63 min: Substitute Wood almost makes an immediate impact. He turns 20 yards out and his strike is touched around the post at full stretch by Alex Smithies. City's first shot on target. Already the changes have made a difference. That gets the 4,000 travelling City fans singing.

56 min: City survive a penalty appeal after the ball strikes Keane's arm. It's not given.

68 min: Great save from Schmiechel. Sean Scannell does well to find Hunt and his cross finds Novak unmarked inside the six-yard box, but his downward header is too close to Schmeichel. The closest either side have come to scoring.

70 min: BOOKING Novak booked for cynical trip on Ritchie De Laet.

73 min: PENALTY Hunt does two step-overs and goes past Dyer, who trips him. It's a penalty this time.

74 min: GOAL (1-0) Novak sends Schmeichel the wrong way from the spot.

77 min: Vaughan squanders a great chance eight yards out to drive a nail in City's FA Cup coffin.

80 min: Peter Clarke's header is cleared off the line by Drinkwater, who is on for Wellens.

82 min: GOAL (1-1) Great ball from Keane out to the right and De Laet's low cross is fired home by Wood. It is Wood's seventh goal in just five games for City.

85 min: Marshall's free-kick is met by De Laet, but he can't direct his header on goal.

88 min: BOOKING Marshall for trip on Scannell

90 min: Anthony Gerrard's long-range effort is safely gathered by Schmeichel.

90+5 min: It's the final whistle and City have been poor by their recent high standards but the quality they possessed on the bench in Nugent and Wood ensures they get a replay.

F-T: Huddersfield 1 City 1

Manager Nigel Pearson has defended his decision to change a winning side for Leicester City's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Huddersfield Town.

Substitute Chris Wood rescued a replay for City with an 82nd-minute equaliser.

Up to then, they were on the verge of going out of the competition following Lee Novak's 74th-minute penalty.

Pearson said some of the changes were enforced because of injury and, while he wants to make progress in the Cup, the league campaign was the priority.

"I made a number of changes, some enforced and some not," said Pearson. "When you make that number of changes it is not easy to get into a rhythm or into a flow.

"It was a good opportunity for one or two players who have not had starts recently.

"Richie Wellens started his first game for a long time and I thought he coped well under the circumstances.

"It is about doing what is right for the squad. I still think if we had played as well as we can we would win.

"It is not as if when we name a different side it is necessarily a weaker one. We have a good squad with a lot of experience. We have picked up a few injuries of late and training has not been easy because of the conditions.

"Anthony Knockaert has had a scan on his ankle and, hopefully, he will not be out for too long. Matty James needed a rest and Chris Wood had a knock on his knee on Friday. It was sensible to make some of the changes but you are always flirting with people criticising you for doing so.

"I never want our fans to perceive us making changes as being anything other than being positive for our club. I am sure the fans would have loved to have seen us win but we are still in the tie.

"The league has always been, and will continue to be, our priority this season. I am always going to make selection decisions with that in mind."

There may have been those among the 4,000 Leicester City supporters who travelled to the John Smith's Stadium who thought manager Nigel Pearson's decision to make five changes to a winning side was a risk.

That view would have been supported by the sight of a below-par City performance against a Huddersfield side struggling for confidence after a horrendous run of results, which included a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of City on New Year's Day.

As a result, The Terriers sacked manager Simon Grayson just two days before this FA Cup fourth-round tie.

City could not take advantage and, in fact, it is the hosts who will be kicking themselves they haven't already ensured their place in the fifth round.

City's fractured performance was mainly due to manager Nigel Pearson's five changes to the side that had beaten Middlesbrough last week.

City have never hidden the fact that the league campaign and the quest for promotion takes a greater priority than any cup competition this season, and, with that in mind, Pearson was right to protect his most potent attacking players.

Anthony Knockaert has tortured Huddersfield in their two league meetings this season, having scored four times, but the Frenchman had been playing with a niggling ankle injury and Pearson decided enough was enough.

Matty James and David Nugent were also rested, while Chris Wood, who had scored six goals in his previous four City appearances, was wrapped in cotton wool on the substitutes' bench after also picking up a knock recently.

Nugent, Knockaert and Wood are vital to City's promotion hopes. Just how important was demonstrated by City's performance without them, and the difference when Nugent and Wood came on.

City were poor in the first half. The front two of Jamie Vardy and Martyn Waghorn were given virtually no service and could not make any impact. Richie Wellens, making his first start since April, was understandably lacking in sharpness alongside Andy King in central midfield, while the wide men of Lloyd Dyer and Ben Marshall were ineffectual.

Huddersfield created several great chances but they were largely wasted by Lee Novak, who was having a poor day in front of goal, luckily for City. After an hour, Pearson unwrapped his star men and sent them on – Wood and Nugent had an instant impact. Within two minutes of coming on, Wood forced the first save from Terriers keeper Alex Smithies and Nugent's movement was troubling a Terriers defence, which had been so comfortable up to that point.

Ironically, it was after City had improved that Huddersfield took the lead from the penalty spot through Novak. Dyer had been tricked into conceding the penalty by Jack Hunt's skill inside the area.

But City produced the move of the game to equalise eight minutes later when Michael Keane spotted Ritchie De Laet's superb overlapping run and the full-back pulled the ball back for Wood to score. It was another quality finish.

Some may have thought before the game that making five changes was a risk on Pearson's part.

However, in hindsight it would have been a risk to play them from the start because there is a far greater prize on offer this season.

Leicester City's home Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers has been provisionally scheduled for Tuesday, February 26.

The original date was Saturday, February 16, but Blackburn are involved in an FA Cup fifth round tie now that weekend at Arsenal.

Of course, City could also be in action against Wigan in the fifth round that weekend as well, but first have to overcome Huddersfield in a replay.

The reason the date is provisionally  is because the February 26-27 midweek dates have been set aside for FA Cup fifth round replays.

Should either side be involved in a replay, the league game will take place on Tuesday, March 12.

A date for City's Championship trip to Cardiff City, which will also be rearranged due to FA Cup scheduling, will be confirmed shortly.

A crash involving four vehicles is causing traffic problems on a main route out of the city.
The collision happened on the northbound carriageway of the A46 at Wanlip, between the Loughborough Road junction and the Hobby Horse Island, just after 4.45pm today.
No-one was injured in the incident.
A Leicestershire police spokeswoman said the pile-up had blocked one lane of the carriageway, causing traffic to stack up during rush hour.
She said: "There were four vehicles involved and we're waiting for them to be recovered. It's purely happened at the wrong time, and it is causing some traffic problems as one lane is blocked.
"The recovery team is at the scene so I'm hopeful it should ease up soon."

Four vehicles involved in a collision on a main road this afternoon have now been removed from the scene.

The pile-up happened on the northbound carriageway of the A46 at Wanlip, between the Loughborough Road junction and the Hobby Horse Island, just after 4.45pm.

No-one was injured in the incident.

The vehicles blocked one lane of the carriageway, causing traffic to stack up during rush hour.

A gang of young thugs carried out three robberies in three days on the same street.

The group targeted their victims in Hutchinson Walk, St Peter's, Leicester, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Detectives believe the victims, aged 28, 34 and 38, were targeted for their mobile phones.

Two were threatened and hit before the thugs searched their pockets and grabbed their handsets.

However, one of the victims managed to run away before his phone could be taken.

The gang members are black and thought to be aged between 16 and 20.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area in response to the attacks.

Inspector Bill Knopp, commander of Spinney Hill Park police station, urged people to call police about any suspicious behaviour.

"It works really well when people call us as soon as they see something which is not right," he said.

"We had a call from a member of the public in Highfields today that they had seen some people in an alleyway putting on balaclavas. As a result of that call, we arrested two people.

"The inquiry is still at the early stages, but we believe that call has possibly prevented a serious offence.

"At the moment, we are not linking those arrests to the robberies in Hutchinson Walk.

"The wider picture is that robberies have fallen by 25 per cent in this area.

"These offences do tend to come in peaks and troughs and Hutchinson Walk has featured before."

A resident of Lincoln Street, which is near Hutchinson Walk, said: "It's scary that there could be three people robbed in a couple of days.

"I hope the people who were attacked are okay and that the police catch the animals who did this. If they can attack three people like this, they will do it again."

Detective Constable Jonathon Davies, who is investigating the robberies, said: "The victims were very upset and shocked and reported the incidents in the hope those responsible will be brought to justice.

"We are doing all we can to locate the offenders and have increased patrols in the area, but we hope that members of the public will also be able to help us.

"If you witnessed any of these incidents, we would urge you to get in touch.

"We know that there was a man in the area at the time of the incident on Friday who spoke to the group.

"If that man is you, please get in touch."

Contact Det Con Davies by calling 101. Alternatively, ring Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Not many people would envy the position Hinckley United manager Carl Heggs finds himself in.

His side are rooted to the bottom of the Blue Square Bet Conference North with just one point from 24 games, their last result a 6-0 thumping at the hands of leaders Chester.

Off the field, it makes equally grim reading.

Disputes over last season's unpaid wages mean they are bound by a transfer embargo, while the debt-ridden club's inability to pay off creditors saw them docked three points, giving Heggs nothing to show for their only league victory of the season.

Heggs has somehow to find a way of putting all this debt and controversy aside and concentrate on keeping his side in the division.

"I have been involved in football for a long time," he said "If there's one thing I understand, it is that there is nothing that I can say, or do, that will change anything in the boardroom.

"Unless I win the lottery and decide to give them some money, there is no point me wasting any energy whatsoever in worrying or trying to contribute to anything that's happening in the boardroom because I have no control over it.

"What I have control over is making sure my players are fit and organised, and want to wear the shirt with pride and passion – that's my job.

"So, I don't get sucked into the politics of it all. My job is to get them ready and focused to play a football match."

Heggs admits the situation is worse than he had expected when he took over the reins full-time in November after the club's previous manager, Dean Thomas, resigned after 16 seasons in charge.

"I knew the football club was in a bit of difficulty, like most football clubs," said Heggs, who is in his third spell at Hinckley.

"I was aware there were some things that may have to take a back seat, but I didn't understand the full extent of the problems, I'll be honest.

"The football club is more important at the minute than the playing side of things because if you don't pay off the necessary bills, you don't have a football club, full stop.

"But I have never quit anything in my life, I have always seen things through to the bitter end."

Motivating his players is surely a hard task when they are not always being paid on time and have suffered 22 defeats from their 24 league games this season.

But Heggs says he has no problem keeping them fired up every week.

"I always keep myself motivated and that rubs off on everyone else," he said. "I wouldn't allow them to take the foot off the pedal.

"When the game starts, whether you're getting your money on time or not, once the whistle goes, you've got to give yourself every opportunity to be the best player on the pitch.

"I'm just trying to get a starting 11 out there each week. That's getting more and more difficult."

Hinckley have already failed to field a side once this season when they pulled out of their league fixture against Bishop's Stortford last month as injuries and suspensions left them with only eight registered players, two of them goalkeepers, plus Heggs himself.

He may have played for Swansea and West Brom during his playing days but, at 42, and with more than two decades in the game, he is clearly no longer in his prime.

Heggs, however, refuses to fault the efforts of his players during this difficult period.

"They have been terrific through it all, they have tried their hardest," he said.

"I've got 17 and 18 year olds playing who should be playing in the under-19s and I'm asking them to play in a very tough league.

"I don't find it hard to motivate them."

Hinckley United have escaped a winding-up order. In London's High Court yesterday, the order from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over an undisclosed debt was before the court. It was formally dismissed on the recommendation of HMRC. The most likely explanation is the debt had been paid or the club had come to an arrangement with HMRC.

Had the club been wound up, it would have had its assets sold to pay off the debt, effectively making it bankrupt.

No further details were given and no-one from the club was available for comment.

Midfielder Richie Wellens has revealed the dressing-room unrest which has hampered Leicester City's previous promotion campaigns.

The 32-year-old said the atmosphere in the City dressing room had not been right in the past couple of seasons because too many players were moaning that they were not in the side.

Wellens, who joined City in 2009, said the spirit in the camp was much better now, and was back to how it was under Nigel Pearson's first tenure as manager.

"The last couple of years, since Nigel's first spell, there were too many players who complained and moaned," said Wellens, who made his first appearance for City since April in their FA Cup fourth-round draw at Huddersfield on Saturday.

"There wasn't a good atmosphere away from the players who were playing.

"We have always had a good squad here but the biggest thing for me is the spirit, the attitude and the togetherness of the players.

"We had it when Nigel was here the first time but, after he left, we haven't had it.

"We have had too many players who expect to play.

"At times, we have had two players for each position and 11 can't play.

"You can imagine the atmosphere in the dressing room is not always what it should be.

"The togetherness and the spirit of the players now is great.

"We have always had a good side but we haven't been able to get that team spirit.

"The manager has done great to get that spirit and togetherness.

"That stands you in good stead when you find yourself struggling in a game."

City entertain Wolves in the Championship on Thursday night as they look to retain their place in the automatic promotion places.

Wellens said City were on course to finish in the top two of the table.

"We are in a good position," he added.

"We need to continue to pick up points when we are playing badly and, when we hit form, we can beat anyone in this division."

There was speculation yesterday that Leicester City midfielder Richie Wellens was heading out on loan to FA Cup giantkillers Oldham Athletic.

Wellens, who has just returned to action for City after injury, was spotted in the Boundary Park crowd as the Latics knocked out Liverpool on Sunday.

The Mercury understands several clubs are interested in taking the 32-year-old out on loan.

Wellens made his first start for City since April in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round stalemate at Huddersfield Town.

A Victorian factory once earmarked for demolition is now set to be preserved as a multi-million pound complex of flats for the elderly and vulnerable.

The disused Abbey Mills building is to be turned into 78 flats by social landlord Asra in an £8.75 million scheme.

The organisation had originally planned to knock down the five-storey factory, off Abbey Park Lane, next to the Grand Union Canal, and replace it with an eight-storey block of 24 apartments and 11 town houses.

Now, the plan is to preserve the historic former stocking factory.

Under the proposals, it will be converted into "extra care" homes, where residents live independently but have staff on hand to prepare food and help when needed.

Asra chief executive Matt Cooney said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Leicester City Council to convert and refurbish the historic Abbey Mills.

"The building used to be a stockings factory and became famous when it provided Captain Scott with his warmth-preserving clothing when he attempted to be the first person to reach the South Pole.

"Our investment will mean the historic nature of this building is preserved and will now have a lasting legacy by providing ground-breaking care to the over-55s in Leicester."

The city council yesterday agreed a £750,000 contribution towards the project, with a further £912,000 coming from the Government.

About £1.25 million had already been put aside for supported living projects and the council had planned to re-model between 18 and 24 of its houses.

Now, £750,000 from this pot will be redirected to support Abbey Mills.

The authority will be placing people in its care in 50 out of the 78 flats, while the remaining 28 will be privately rented.

Councillor Rita Patel, assistant city mayor for adult social care, said: "This really is a fantastic opportunity for us. By re-directing some of this money to Abbey Mills, we will be able to provide people with more extra care facilities much more quickly.

"Not only will this redevelopment provide much-needed supported living accommodation, it will be preserving an important building in Leicester's architectural heritage."

Asra already owns an extra care facility, The Wolsey, next to Abbey Mills, which has 63 self-contained flats.

It has on-site care staff, non-resident management staff and a community alarm service.

There is also a lounge, dining room, garden, hobby room, hairdressing salon and an assisted bathing facility.

It is proposed the refurbished Abbey Mills will be connected to the adjoining Wolsey building via a bridge, to allow the new residents access to existing facilities. The project is set to be completed by March 2015.

Leicester Victorian Society spokesman Grahame Lees said: "We were very upset when we heard this fine factory might be demolished, but it is pleasing to see it is now set to be brought back into use.

"They did a very good job with the next door building so I hope this too will be a good example of a new use for an old building."