Gary Lineker having second thoughts about Match of the Day pants promise as Leicester City close in on title

The former Foxes striker has already begun discussing the stunt with BBC producers

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker (Getty)

Gary Lineker admits he has had second thoughts about his promise to present Match of the Day in his pants now that Leicester City are on the verge of winning the title.

The former Foxes and England striker has caught cold feet in recent weeks, having vowed last December to appear on the programme in his underwear if his boyhood club pulled off the unlikely achievement.

Leicester, who were 5,000-1 outsiders for the title at the start of the season, will be crowned champions if they beat Manchester United this coming Sunday, following Tottenham Hotspur’s failure to beat on West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.

Lineker has reservations about the stunt but, having discussed it with BBC producers, he is now resigned to fulfilling his promise.

"You'll have to wait and see. I've kind of said I'll have to do it," the 55-year-old presenter told the Radio Times. "The conversation's been had. I've told them many times, 'Please tell me I can't do it'.

"When I sent the tweet in December I categorically knew there was zero chance that (Leicester) would win.

"I'm in good shape. For an old b*****d. I'll probably work out for the two weeks beforehand very, very hard."

While speaking exclusively to The Independent, Lineker denied ever promising to do the entirety of the programme in his briefs.

“I certainly never said anywhere in that tweet that I would do the whole show," he said.

Claudio Ranieri's side have only shown brief signs of wavering during the title run-in and maintained their championship-winning form with a 4-0 home victory over Swansea City on Sunday.

Three points at Old Trafford would seal the first top division league title in the club's 132-year history. Only two teams - Norwich City and Southampton - have beaten Manchester United away from home in the league this season.

Additional reporting by PA