John McDermott explains why north London club have accepted invitation to play in tournament this season

Tottenham Hotspur’s under-23 team will play in the Checkatrade Trophy this season and on Wednesday they discovered which group they will be in.

Spurs’ youngsters will face AFC Wimbledon, Luton Town and Barnet in South Group F with all the games being played away.

The north London club declined the invitation to join the tournament last year, but Head of Player Development John McDermott believes it fits in better with their scheduling this time around.

He spoke to the official club website about Tottenham featuring in the Checkatrade Trophy for the first time.

“We took the decision to enter the competition as it is beneficial for the Development Squad’s scheduling this year,” said McDermott.

“We know the EFL Trophy will provide a massive challenge for us and we look forward to testing ourselves.”

The tournament will provide some of Tottenham’s youngsters with crucial experience in a competitive environment.