Colchester United will take on Southend United and Cambridge United in the group stages of this season's Checkatrade Trophy.

The U's have been placed in Group B of this season's competition, where they will be joined by one of the invited under-21 teams when the draw takes place next Wednesday.

Colchester will host Southend at the JobServe Community Stadium, having travelled to play their Essex rivals at Roots Hall in the group stages of last season's competition.

That will mean that they will travel to play Joe Dunne's Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium, on a date yet to be arranged.

All EFL Clubs will play two of their three matches at home in the group stages.

The round one draw, which will take place next Wednesday, will see the 16 invited U21 teams placed into their respective Northern and Southern section groups.