Only clubs with category 1 academies were invited to compete in this season’s tournament.
Leeds United acquired 11 new faces during the summer transfer window, leaving them with as big a squad as they have ever had at Championship level.
For many players, including notable additions including Toumani Diagouraga and Luke Murphy, this has left first team prospects bleak, especially with no emergency loan window on which to fall back.
Although much maligned, the newly-tweaked EFL (Checkatrade) Trophy – formerly the Football League (Johnstone’s Paint) Trophy – could have offered sanctuary to such fringe names, however, Leeds’ category 2 status means they did not receive an invite.
It is a shame, perhaps, given the abundance of bright young things currently on the Whites’ books, who would certainly benefit from playing in a more competitive environment, against senior sides from England’s lower leagues.
With a few older players thrown in too – EFL rules permit no more than five who were over the age of 21 at 30 June 2016 – Leeds would have likely caused a few problems in this season’s competition.
Here’s how a hypothetical United eleven might look (with over-age players asterisked):
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