SWINDON Town will face a young Chelsea side in the Checkatrade Trophy for the second time in three seasons following today’s draw.

The Blues are one of 16 clubs invited to field U21 sides in this season’s competition – joining the remaining 48 clubs from Leagues One and Two.

Town were pitted in Southern Section Group C last week alongside Newport County and Plymouth Argyle, with the invited U21 teams allotted their spots at a subsequent draw today.

Teams will face each other once in the group stage, with the three EFL clubs all playing at home twice. Dates and venues for this season’s games have not yet been released.

Swindon will once again pit their wits against Chelsea’s young stars, with the two also having faced off in the pool stages of the 2016-17 tournament, where Town ran out 2-1 winners at home.

Chelsea were the best performing U21 side in last season’s competition, reaching the semi-finals before going out on penalties to eventual winners Lincoln City.