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Manchester United u21s EFL Trophy campaign kicks off on Tuesday night as they travel to Barnsley.
United’s draw has landed them in a group of death with some of the biggest clubs in the competition in Barnsley, Huddersfield Town, and Doncaster Rovers.
A cup competition for League One and League Two clubs, the EFL Trophy has welcomed the u21s sides of Category One academies since the 2016/17 season.
An opportunity to gain experience against senior opposition, u21s manager Travis Binnion believes “alongside the Youth Cup for the Under-18s, the EFL Trophy is our biggest regular competition.”
“We feel like we find the most out about the players in that arena and they’re unique games, playing against senior opposition, the format of it, going away, it offers a lot.”
This year will be United’s sixth season taking part in the competition, with the the round of 32 being the furthest they have made it so far.
Last season Binnion’s side were eliminated in the group stage and will be looking to use that experience to produce improved results this time out.
Binnion said “maybe a third or half the squad that were involved at Salford last year might play on Tuesday night, you’re hoping those lads have a better understanding of what’s coming and can help the others or at least show the others with their own performance the maturity that they’ve developed.”
Having started the season with a 4-2 loss on Friday away to Arsenal in the league, the young reds have a quick turnaround to make up for what was a poor performance.
Binnion is looking to use the loss as motivation adding that “Arsenal were really good and better than us on the night, so the lads are coming off the back of that knowing that they didn’t do themselves justice, so they’ll want to prove a point.”
The United coach has laid down two objectives for the young players, wanting them to “take the opportunities Barnsley give us and nullify them off what we’ve seen.”
Tonight’s encounter also poses the opportunity for a familial showdown within the Devaney household.
United midfielder Jacob Devaney’s father Martin Devaney is currently the assistant manager of Barnsley, having previously acted as caretaker manager for the League One club on two previous occasions.
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