The Magpies reserve side took on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the competition last season.
Newcastle United have announced on their official website that they will once again be competing in the EFL Trophy, raising the prospect of another Tyne-Wear “derby” between a Magpies team and rivals Sunderland.
Last season, the competition found itself in the sports headlines as the Magpies’ reserve side took on Sunderland’s first team at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats overpowering their younger opponents in the last-16 encounter.
With Sunderland falling just short of getting promotion to the Championship, the Wearsiders’ first team will once again take part in the competition, which means that Newcastle’s second string could once again take on their bitter rivals.
The Magpies, who survived in the Premier League last term under the guidance of Rafael Benitez, will be one of 16 category one academies to enter the competition, which comprises all the League One and Two clubs.
Here is how some Toon Army faithful reacted to the club’s official announcement, which was shared on their Twitter account:
The 64 clubs who have entered next season’s EFL Trophy will be divided into 16 groups of four, with eight northern groups and eight southern groups, and first round of fixtures is scheduled to take place in the week commencing 2 September.
