Confirmed Sunderland first team could play Newcastle United kids in Checkatrade Trophy this season
Sunderland managed a second spectacular relegation in a row, last season seeing the Wearsiders finishing rock bottom in the Championship, 12 months after doing the same in the Premier League.
As the Mackems playing Accrington Stanley on a level playing field became reality, the spectre of the Checkatrade Trophy also loomed for Sunderland fans.
Newcastle United entered a side for the first time last season, their Under 21s featuring as Port Vale won the group and qualified along with Oldham, Newcastle in third place and Crewe bottom of the group.
Now it has been confirmed that the Magpies are once again one of 16 Category One academies to enter the tournament, alongside the 48 clubs in Leagues One and Two.
Those 48 clubs including Sunderland of course.
The 64 teams will be split into pools of four clubs, with each group having an invited academy side in it.
However, last season the group stage was split into north and south to keep travelling/expenses down, so if that is repeated and no reason to think it won’t be, then Newcastle United’s kids have a one in eight chance of drawing Sunderland’s first team in their northern group.
Invited Under 21 sides in 2018-19 EFL Trophy:
Arsenal
Brighton
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Leicester City
Manchester City
Middlesbrough
Southampton
Stoke
Swansea
Tottenham
West Brom
West Ham
Wolves
BBC Sport have revealed that the EFL has tweaked the rules on who is eligible, with top-flight sides only able to now field two players over the age of 21 and made more than 40 first team appearances.
If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk