Crawley and Charlton have already opened Southern Group B, with Crawley beating the League One side 4-3 at the Broadfield Stadium, and U’s will host Crawley in three weeks’ time before a visit to The Valley in November. Before that, though, U’s will hope to make it a hat-trick of victories against Under 21 sides in the competition, having beaten Crystal Palace and Chelsea in each of the past two seasons.

Villa’s Under 21 side finished fifth last season in Premier League 2, losing in the play-offs to Leeds, and have started this season with one win in their first four league games. They drew 2-2 at Brighton in their first group game in the Premier League Cup last Friday, denied victory by an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Villa have had a mixed record in the EFL Trophy in recent seasons, losing all three group games last season, when their opponents again included Crawley, but winning all three the previous season before coincidentally losing to Charlton in the first knock out stage.

Sutton, who reached the final at the first attempt two seasons ago and again came through the group stages last season, will be hoping that it is recent cup form that will prevail on Tuesday rather than league form, Saturday’s defeat at Accrington a seventh in a row in the league while U’s have beaten League One Cambridge and Wycombe in the Carabao Cup. Sam Hart may be fit to play a part having been out through injury since the start of the season, but the game may come too soon for Craig Eastmond, who has returned to full training this week and hopefully will be available for Saturday’s game against MK Dons.

Should the scores be level after 90 minutes on Tuesday each side will take a point, but there will then be a penalty shoot out, the winners of which will receive an extra point.

Tuesday’s referee is Jacob Miles, in his first EFL season, although he has been to Sutton before for the National League game against Torquay in April 2021.

Season tickets are NOT valid for Tuesday’s game, and tickets can be bought on line here, or at the ground on Tuesday evening at no extra cost. Prices are £12 for adults, £7 for concessions and £3 for juniors age 12-18. Tickets for under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Stand seats are £4 extra in all cases.

A programme can be ordered on line to be sent out after the game, price £4 plus postage. Click here to order a copy

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As with all group games in the EFL Trophy the game is being live streamed and is available to watch for £10 through our iFollow service. Click here to buy a match pass.