Town defender Leif Davis is looking forward to being reunited with former teammates Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin ahead of the Blues’ meeting with Leicester City on Tuesday.

Promotion-winning heroes Burns and Chaplin both left Town over the summer to join the Foxes, but face a swift return to Suffolk as the League One side visit Portman Road for a meeting in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

While Chaplin’s departure was widely anticipated following a loan spell at Portsmouth last season, Burns followed suit only a month on from signing a new one-year contract at the club ahead of the Blues’ return to the Premier League.

The Wales international scored 30 goals across 164 appearances and made an emotional comeback from a serious knee injury last term to net important goals on the road at both Coventry City and Southampton.

Davis, one of the last remaining members of the back-to-back promotion squad, admitted he was disappointed when Burns opted to make the switch to the King Power Stadium.

“It was sad to see him go,” he told TWTD during an exclusive interview. “I was buzzing when he signed his new contract, but it’s his career and he’s got to look after himself, his family and his kids. He’s got to do what he’s got to do.

“Wes and Chappers were the first people to welcome me into the changing room. It was the Southend game at Portman Road when I came in, and they were the first lads I spoke to.

“Two incredible lads, Wes I was really close with and will stay in contact with him. He’ll be a big miss, especially in the changing room as well.

“He’s a great character and an unbelievable player, and he did well to get back to where he was after his knee injury. He’ll be a big miss, but we’ve added players to the team that will also strengthen those areas as well.

“Wes is a close friend. Everyone’s a close friend of mine, but Wes was a special person. Anything you need to speak about off the pitch, he was always there for you and always put an arm around you when things went wrong or things were not great and you’re struggling.

“I’m sad to see him go, but it’s always good to see him hopefully achieving well at a different club.”

Chaplin scored 55 goals in 174 games for Town, with his most notable season coming when he clinched the Golden Boot as Kieran McKenna’s side surged to promotion from League One.

The diminutive forward could return from a minor injury and make his Leicester debut back at Portman Road on Tuesday, and Davis is in no doubt as to the welcome he would receive.

He said: “They’ll get a great reception for everything they’ve done at the club, three promotions with the club. Especially Chappers, the stuff that he’s done off the field bringing the Foundation to life and being the face of the Foundation.

“It will be good to see them both, it won’t be nice to see them on a different team, but it will be good to catch up with them and see them.”

Burns scored his first Foxes goal during their 2-1 home defeat to Burton Albion on Saturday.

For once, Davis is hoping Burns’s form in front of goal does not continue.

“He messaged me and said he hopes I don’t play,” the Geordie joked. “We’ve had some good battles even in training.

“I texted him straight away when we found out, he said I hope you don’t play with a laughing face emoji. I said we’ve played against each other so many times in training so we know how it feels anyway.

“It would always be that battle in training, Kieran always put us against each other to just have a run-off.

“Two great lads coming back to Portman Road and they deserve the reception that they should get.”

Photo: Matchday Images