Tottenham Hotspur’s U21s have been drawn as the fourth team in EFL Trophy Group A, joining the Blues, Colchester United and Gillingham.

The Blues’ first ever EFL Trophy group fixtures - they will face one of their EFL opponents at home, one away and the Spurs U21s at home - will be played in the weeks commencing 2nd September, 7th October and 11th November.

The ball representing Norwich City’s U21s was left out of the draw for Group A, which was live on talkSPORT at lunchtime, with the EFL avoiding “high-profile clashes” in the group stage.

Two teams will progress from the group with the usual three points for a win and one for a draw. However, with matches level at 90 minutes going straight to penalties, a further bonus point goes to the winners of the shoot-out.

The game with the League Two U's will see manager Paul Lambert reunited with his old club, while keeper Tomas Holy will potentially lock horns with his former side, the Gills, for a third time.

The visit of Tottenham’s U21s will see academy head of coaching and player development Bryan Klug reunited with the youth set-up where he worked prior to his return to Town in 2012.

The competition, featuring all the League One and Two teams plus 16 U21 sides and known as the Checkatrade Trophy in previous seasons, is split on a north-south basis with eight groups in each region.

The 15 other clubs whose U21s in the competition this season are Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Teams are required to field four qualifying outfield players, but any eligible goalkeeper.

A qualifying outfield player is someone who started the club's previous match, someone in the top 10 players at the club in terms starting appearances in league and domestic cup competitions in the season up to that point, a player with 40 or more first-team appearances over their career or a player on loan from a Premier League or EFL side. No player can appear for two different teams in the competition.

Photo: Action Images

MickMillsTash added 12:59 - Jul 12 Better to play Tottenham and split the gate receipts Does this tournament count towards the 92 club ?
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jonwillpott added 13:02 - Jul 12 When will our 'home' and 'away' fixture be announced against the L1/L2 teams?
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Northstander_Blue added 13:04 - Jul 12 Despite those unhappy about the PL Under 23s invited, 85,000 turned up at Wembley for the last final.
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TheBoyBlue added 13:06 - Jul 12 Really just want us to get dumped out of this at the group stage. Total waste of time, will only distract us for the one thing that we need to do above all else this season, which is get back up. Use it as an opportunity for the kids and fringe players.
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TJS added 13:12 - Jul 12 "a player with 40 or more first-team appearances over their career" - I see an interesting loophole here - couldn't we just register some 'veterans' like Kieron Dyer etc.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:19 - Jul 12 It will be nice to put one over the no doubt cocky Tottenham U21s.
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blues1 added 13:47 - Jul 12 Mick mills tash. Dont think you can count Portman road as one of the 92 club. Tottenham game is at home
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MrTown added 13:55 - Jul 12 Can't say I have ever heard of them, what league do they play in?
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JaySwitch added 16:38 - Jul 12 Being one of the few clubs that's not played at new wembley I'm all for this, league and trophy double il take that coyb
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