TWELVE Premier League clubs will be represented by under-21 teams in this season’s Checkatrade Trophy, it has been announced.

A total of 16 invited teams will take part in this season’s competition, alongside the 48 sides from League One and League Two.

Premier League champions Chelsea, who Swindon Town faced in the group stages last season, remain in the tournament, with the addition of four newcomers, including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Fulham.

Four Championship clubs will have under-21 sides involved, with Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Reading  who are joining Fulham in the group stage draw, which will take place in July.

The first round of fixtures are scheduled to take place week commencing 28th August.

The announcement follows the overwhelming support of League One and League Two clubs to allow the continued involvement of 16 invited sides in the Checkatrade Trophy for the next two seasons, alongside several format amendments to provide increased flexibility in team selection for League One and League Two clubs.

The full list of invited under-21 sides is as follows:

Brighton & Hove Albion

Reading

Chelsea

Southampton

Everton

Stoke City

Fulham

Sunderland

Leicester City

Swansea City

Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur

Middlesbrough

West Bromwich Albion

Newcastle United

West Ham United

The invited teams, who will play their group games away from home, were selected based on their final league position at the end of the 2016/17 season. The first 16 were invited to take part, and then subsequent teams with category one academy status invited as required.

The selection criteria for invited under-21 teams is ‘six players from the starting 11 must be under the age of 21 as of 30th June 2017.’ EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey has welcomed the growing strength in the number of clubs wanting to take part in the competition.

“I was delighted when EFL clubs collectively backed the competition following a full and comprehensive review of last season’s pilot format, and we can see from the increasing interest from category one academies that the Checkatrade Trophy has genuine appeal,” he said.

“The competition provides a unique challenge to young players and seasoned professionals alike. I strongly believe players from League One and League Two clubs will look forward to taking on some of the country’s brightest prospects, who will themselves learn a lot from participating in a first-team competition.

“I want to thank EFL clubs and the Category One Academies for their support. I believe the balance of the competition should benefit all sides and will make for some intriguing matches when the group stages get under way in August.”