U21s to face two League One sides in Papa John’s Trophy

LEICESTER City’s Under-21s will play Sheffield Wednesday, Burton Albion, and Bradford City in the Papa John’s Trophy following the draw yesterday, writes Jordan Blackwell.

City’s development squad will line up in the competition for the seventh straight season, having been involved every year since 2016-17, when Premier League and Championship academy sides were first allowed to enter.

Ben Petty’s youngsters were knocked out of the group stage last season, but City’s run to the quarterfinals in 2019-20 remains the secondbest performance by an Under-21 group in the tournament, only bettered by Chelsea’s run to the semifinals a couple of years earlier.

They face a difficult task this coming season after being drawn in Group H of the Northern Section, facing two League One sides in Wednesday and Burton, as well as one of the biggest clubs in League Two in Bradford.

All of City’s three group games will be away from home.

The Premier League have also announced that from next season, Premier League 2 will be an Under-21 competition, rather than Under-23.

While the age band has been reduced, clubs are now permitted to use five over-age outfield players and one over-age goalkeeper, rather than three over-age outfield players and one over-age goalkeeper, as was the case previously.

The rule change is unlikely to affect City too much as they have significantly reduced the average

age of their development squad over the past couple of years.

City finished eighth out of 14 in Premier League 2 last season, but were only five points off third in what was a closely-contested division.