Everton’s youngsters launch their Checkatrade Trophy campaign at League Two Notts County tonight (7.45pm).
David Unsworth’s Under-23s got their competitive season under way with a scoreless draw at West Ham last Friday – a game they were inches from winning when Jonjoe Kenny’s second-half strike thudded into a post.
Attention now turns from the Premier League 2 to cup football and a trip for the young Blues to the Magpies’ Meadow Lane to take on Kevin Nolan’s team.
Former Bolton and Newcastle midfielder Nolan led his side to a 2-0 victory over Chesterfield on Saturday, one week after they went down 3-0 at Coventry on the opening day of the season.