Derby County’s Under-23s will return to Premier League Cup action on Monday night when they face Sheffield United in the Round of 16.
The Under-23s will face the Blades at Loughborough University Stadium (7pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.
Premier League Cup Format...
Mirroring the format of the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League Cup consists of eight four-team groups, with each club playing their opposing teams both home and away.
It's the first Premier League Cup campaign since 2019/20, when the competition was curtailed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it includes Academies from Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Clubs in the third and fourth categories previously competed in qualifiers to join the top-level Academies in the group stage.
Following the group stages, clubs will compete in knockout rounds on a one-off basis, starting with the Round of 16, then the Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and the Final.
Team News...
Under-23s boss Pat Lyons could call on the likes of Louie Sibley and Liam Thompson for the game after they were named on the bench for Wayne Rooney’s first-team squad on Saturday against Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium.
Defender Kornell McDonald is set to make another start after recently returning from a calf problem, while Tyree Wilson is in line for another start after making his comeback from a long-term knee injury earlier this year.
Defender Harrison Solomon (hamstring) and midfielder Connor Dixon (ankle) have been out of action in recent weeks while defender Max Bardell (hamstring) is also sidelined.
The Premier League Cup So Far...
Derby's Under-23s reached the knockout stages of the competition after finishing top of Group C with five wins and a draw to their name from six outings in a group containing Charlton Athletic, Norwich City and Reading.
Derby started the group campaign with a 3-3 draw at Norwich in the early stages of the season, before racking up five successive wins - ending in a 3-1 victory at Reading in February.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, finished second in Group D on goal difference, which included Peterborough United, Everton and Burnley, with three wins, one draw and two defeats.
Live Stream...
RamsTV is unable to stream the game live owing to a Premier League match taking place on Monday night.
Full match highlights from the Premier League Cup clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the game.
Ticket Information...
Derby County’s Under-23s will continue to play most of their home fixtures for the 2021/22 season at Loughborough University.
Supporters will once again be able to attend the matches and tickets can be purchased in advance of each fixture from the Loughborough Sport website.
Advanced purchases are advised, and all tickets will be for the terracing areas of Loughborough University Stadium.
Tickets are priced as follows:
Season Ticket Holders: FREE (all Season Ticket Holders have been emailed a 2021/22 'proof of purchase' to show on arrival)
Advance Purchases: Adult £3.50, Concessions £1.50 (these include online booking fees)
Matchday Purchases: Adult £5, Concessions £2.50 (Please note payment by cash is NOT accepted at Loughborough University Stadium)
* The doors will open for each match from 30 minutes before kick-off.
Stadium Address: Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, LE11 3TL.
Tickets for all of Derby County Under-23s’ fixtures at Loughborough University Stadium can be purchased here: loughboroughsport.ticketline.co.uk/derby-county-fc-u23.
