Crewe Alexandra have been drawn to face Port Vale and Wrexham in the group stage of the EFL Trophy.
The local clashes – one home and one away – will take place in Northern Group B of the competition.
An Under-21 side from a Premier League or Championship club will be added in a Sky Sports live draw on Thursday, June 22, at 11:30am.
The Group B games, yet to be finalised, are scheduled to take place on September 5/6, October 10/11, and November 14/15.
Northern Groups
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Barrow | Crewe Alexandra | Accrington Stanley | Fleetwood |
| Blackpool | Port Vale | Carlisle United | Tranmere Rovers |
| Morecambe | Wrexham | Harrogate Town | Wigan Athletic |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Bolton Wanderers | Barnsley | Derby County | Doncaster Rovers |
| Salford City | Grimsby Town | Lincoln City | Burton Albion |
| Stockport County | Bradford City | Notts County | Mansfield Town |
Invited Clubs:
Everton U21, Nottingham Forest U21, Leicester City U21, Liverpool U21, Manchester City U21, Manchester United U21, Newcastle United U21, Wolverhampton Wanderers U21