Colchester United in Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group E

The U's will take on the League One O's and fellow League Two team MK Dons, after being placed in Group E of this season's competition.

A Premier League academy side will be added to the group on Thursday when the draw takes place live on Sky Sports News, at 2.30pm.

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The draw will see the 16 invited under-21 teams placed into their respective Northern and Southern regional groups, with the 48 EFL clubs placed into pre-determined groups, prior to the draw.

The EFL have confirmed the invited sides from Premier League clubs with Category One academies that will join Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two clubs in the 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy competition.

This season’s under-21 sides hail from Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and last season’s quarter-finalists, Brighton and Hove Albion.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

The Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group matches will get underway in early September, with dates to be confirmed following this Wednesday's Fixture Release Day.

The two top from each group progress to the knockout stages, with Bristol Street Motors Trophy fixtures remaining regionalised until the quarter-final stage.

Until the semi-finals, no extra-time shall be played, with the winners determined by penalty kicks.

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Extra-time will apply only in the final if the result is level after 90 minutes’ duration, with a period of 30 minutes played.

If still equal, the winner is then decided by penalties.

From 2024/25, the EFL and its clubs will embark on a record domestic rights deal with broadcaster Sky Sports that will see every Bristol Street Motors Trophy match broadcast live on Sky Sports for fans in the UK.