EFL Trophy group stage: Man Utd Under-21s drawn in same group as Salford City

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Portsmouth won the most recent EFL Trophy final in 2019

Salford City have been drawn in the same group as Manchester United Under-21s in the 2020-21 EFL Trophy.

Their northern section group also includes Rochdale and Morecambe.

League One club Portsmouth, who are the most recent EFL Trophy winners, have been drawn against West Ham Under-21s, Colchester and Southend.

Pompey and Salford City reached the 2019-20 final, which was due to be held at Wembley in April, but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The first round of matches will be played on either 8 or 9 September, with the final is scheduled for 14 March, 2021.

All 48 League One and League Two clubs are joined by 15 Premier League academy sides, plus Norwich City Under-21s, in the competition.

Portsmouth beat Sunderland 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time at Wembley when the competition was last able to be completed during the 2018-19 season.

The EFL is yet to confirm when the 2019-20 final will be played.

Northern section

  • Group A: Carlisle, Fleetwood, Sunderland, Aston Villa U21s
  • Group B: Morecambe, Rochdale, Salford, Manchester United U21s
  • Group C: Bolton, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Newcastle U21s
  • Group D: Port Vale, Tranmere, Wigan, Liverpool U21s
  • Group E: Mansfield, Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Manchester City U21s
  • Group F: Bradford, Doncaster, Oldham, Wolves U21s
  • Group G: Accrington, Barrow, Blackpool, Leeds U21s
  • Group H: Grimsby, Harrogate, Hull, Leicester U21s

Southern section

  • Group A: Colchester, Portsmouth, Southend, West Ham U21s
  • Group B: Crawley, Gillingham, Ipswich, Arsenal U21s
  • Group C: MK Dons, Northampton, Stevenage, Southampton U21s
  • Group D: Bristol Rovers, Oxford, Walsall, Chelsea U21s
  • Group E: Exeter, Forest Green, Swindon, West Brom U21s
  • Group F: Cheltenham, Newport, Plymouth, Norwich U21s
  • Group G: AFC Wimbledon, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Brighton U21s
  • Group H: Burton, Cambridge, Peterborough, Fulham U21s