Sunderland have confirmed the dates for this season's EFL Trophy group games.
The Black Cats have been drawn in the Northern section Group A, alongside League One Fleetwood Town, League Two Carlisle United, and Aston Villa U21s.
And Phil Parkinson's side will begin their Trophy campaign against Villa's academy side at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, September 8 - making that game effectively a dress rehearsal for their League One opener against Bristol Rovers on Wearside four days later.
Sunderland will then play Carlisle at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, October 6.
Their group stage programme will conclude with a trip to Highbury Stadium to take on Joey Barton's Fleetwood on Tuesday, November 10.
All three games will kick off at 7.45pm.
The game against Villa will be staged behind closed doors due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
But the Government has held out the prospect of a limited number of fans returning to stadiums from October 1, and if that goes ahead there is a chance that some supporters could be present for the games against Carlisle and Fleetwood.
If that is the case, Sunderland will make further announcements nearer the time.
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