EFL Trophy plans confirmed for Charlton, Dons and Palace’s U21 side
The EFL Trophy Group Stage draw will take place at 11:30am on Thursday June 22 – with Charlton, AFC Wimbledon and Crystal Palace’s U21 side all involved in the draw.
The 16 invited U21 teams will be placed into their respective Northern and Southern section groups, with the 48 EFL clubs placed into pre-determined groups prior to the draw. Consideration has been given to ensure travel time is minimised and recovery time is maximised for players.
In addition, if there is a situation where two EFL clubs meet in the group stages for a second successive season, then the club that was at home in 2022-23 will play away in 2023-24. All EFL clubs will play two of their three matches at home in the group stages, with U21 teams away from home in all three fixtures.
The confirmed invited U21 teams are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charlton progressed out of Group I last season – finishing second behind Colchester. However, the Addicks were knocked out in the second round after a 3-2 defeat at Plymouth.
Wimbledon topped Group J, finishing above Portsmouth, Crawley and Aston Villa’s U21 side. But Johnnie Jackson’s Dons were also knocked out by Plymouth after a 4-3 defeat on penalties following a 3-3 draw in normal time.
Palace finished third in Group M, with Bristol Rovers and Plymouth progressing through to the knockout stages.