Carlisle United have today learned two of their group stage opponents in next season's EFL Trophy.

The promoted Blues will take on League Two sides Accrington Stanley and Harrogate Town in the competition.

A third opponent in northern Group C will be revealed on Thursday.

That will be an invited Under-21 team, in what will be the eighth season since the trophy's controversial relaunch involving Premier League clubs.

United will face an under-21 side from one of Everton, Liverpool, Leicester City, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest or Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The draw means Carlisle will take on a Harrogate side who have proven a bogey side to United in recent years.

In seven meetings in league and cup the Blues have never beaten the Sulphurites.

They drew 3-3 and lost 1-0 against Simon Weaver's side last season in League Two.

They have met once before in the Trophy, United losing 1-0 at the EnviroVent Stadium in 2022.

In Accrington's case, it will be a first meeting since 2017 when they were League Two opponents.

They've also faced Stanley three times before in the Trophy too, picking up a win in 2014, a defeat in 2011 and a defeat on penalties in 2006.

Accrington were relegated from League One last season in 23rd, while Harrogate finished 19th in League Two. 

The EFL Trophy does not currently have a sponsor following the end of its deal with Papa John's.

The competition has been consistently boycotted by some fans over the involvement of top-flight clubs in what used to be a competition purely for lower-league clubs.

Carlisle were knocked out at the group stage last season.

The full group stage draw so far is HERE