SUNDERLAND first team’s Checkatrade Trophy experience will see them face Carlisle United, Morecambe and Stoke City’s Under-21s.
The Black Cats are involved in the competition rather their Under-21s following relegation to League One.
Middlesbrough, still in the Championship, will still be fielding the Under-21s once again and they have been drawn against Burton, Port Vale and Walsall in the group stages.
Arsenal Under-21s will start their first season in the Trophy against Cheltenham, Coventry and Forest Green Rovers.
The Gunners and Middlesbrough are one of 16 Category One academies drawn in the competition with League One and League Two clubs. The 64 teams are split into pools of four clubs, with each group having an invited academy side in it.
The first round of fixtures is scheduled to take place in the week starting Monday, September 3.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here