Wolves under-21s to compete in 2020/21 EFL Trophy

17th August 2020

Having made it into the knockout stages of last season’s competition, Wolves will return to the EFL Trophy for the upcoming season as one of the 16 Category One Academy sides taking part.

James Collins will lead the Wolves under-21 side in the 2020/21 edition of the tournament, after Wolves fell in the second round to Salford City, with the Ammies still yet to play the final of last season’s competition, due to Covid-19 putting an end to the League One and League Two campaigns.

The under-21s faced Carlisle United, Morecambe and Blackpool last time out, reaching the knockout stages having finished second in the group behind the Seasiders thanks to a 4-2 win away at Carlisle and a penalty shootout victory against the Shrimps.

However, Wolves’ EFL Trophy campaign came to an end in the second round, following a 3-0 defeat to eventual finalists Salford at Moor Lane.

This season’s format once again sees 16 invited Academy teams, including Wolves, joined by the 48 Clubs in League One and League Two and continues to provide EFL Clubs with a platform for some of the country’s finest young talent to experience first-team football.

The draw for the EFL Trophy group stages will take place on Tuesday 18^th August at 1.30pm, broadcast live on TalkSport 2, with the first matchweek of fixtures scheduled to take place on the week beginning 7^th September, culminating in a final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 14^th March 2021.

2020/21 EFL Trophy dates:

Matchday 1: 8/9^th September
Matchday 2: 6/7^th October
Matchday 3: 10/11^th November
Round of 32: 8/9^th December
Round of 16: 12/13^th January
Quarter-finals: 2/3^rd February
Semi-finals: 16/17^th February
Final: 14^th March

EFL Trophy factfile:

Group stages

16 groups of four teams
Each group to contain one invited team
Groups formed to minimise overall travel for EFL clubs and fans
Invited under-21 teams to play all group games away
Clubs will be awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw
In the event of a drawn game after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will be held with the victorious team gaining an extra point
Top two clubs qualify from each group

Knockout rounds

Round two will remain regionalised with group winners at home against a second placed team from a different qualifying group
Round three will remain regionalised
Quarter-finals will be drawn without geographical restriction (no regionalisation)
If scores are level after 90 minutes, all knockout rounds will be decided by penalties except for the final, which will have extra-time and then penalties

Player criteria

Six of the 11 players in the starting line-up need to be under-21 at 30^th June this year
There can be no more than two players who are over 21 and have made more than 40 appearances for the first team (either in the starting 11 or as a playing substitute) as of 30^th June
Players who are out on loan are ineligible for this competition
Top two clubs qualify from each group
It is not possible to appear for more than one club in the tournament, so the cup-tied rule applies.

Wolves’ competition history