Getting their Group F campaigns under way, Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers and Huddersfield Town meet for an EFL Trophy contest on Tuesday evening.
Rovers are riding high in the early League Two table, while Town have started well in the third tier, both posting three wins from four so far.
Match preview
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An impressive 3-2 win at Port Vale gave Doncaster their third win in four league games at the weekend, with yet another Billy Sharp goal and a Luke Molyneux double sealing the deal at Vale Park.
Grant McCann's promotion-hopefuls sit fifth in the early League Two table, with nine points already on the board - their only setback thus far was slipping up against Newport.
Rovers are ultimately bidding to end a three-year stay in England's fourth tier, and they have picked up where they left off towards the end of the 2023-24 season.
A remarkable 10-game winning run preceded their semi-final playoff loss to Crewe Alexandra on penalties, so they will surely be gunning for automatic promotion this time around.
McCann's men have already been in cup action this term, beating Salford City 2-0 in the EFL Cup first round before succumbing to Everton two weeks later; now, they embark on another campaign in the EFL Trophy.
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At the weekend, Huddersfield made the short trip to Rotherham aiming to continue their flawless start to the League One season, after suffering relegation from the Championship last term.
However, Michael Duff's side dropped their first points following a 2-1 defeat, after going down to 10 men when Danny Ward was sent off and later conceding a 90th-minute goal.
Nonetheless, Town's quest to make an immediate return to the second tier has largely started well, with three straight wins preceding their loss on Saturday.
They also cruised past Morecambe in the EFL Cup first round, though League Two side Walsall halted their run in that competition last week, dealing out a 3-2 defeat to the Terriers at Bescot Stadium.
After their second straight setback in Rotherham, now Huddersfield face another Yorkshire derby, as they kick begin their EFL Trophy campaign in a group also featuring Barnsley and Manchester United Under-21s.
Team News
Grant McCann.....James Maxwell and Richard Wood are the only members of the first team squad currently sidelined, with both having recently undergone surgery to correct metatarsal and ankle injuries respectively.
One player finally back on the comeback trail is midfielder Ben Close, who was an unused sub on Merseyside - his first squad involvement since sustaining a knee injury last January. McCann had hoped to play him on Tuesday but says the plan is to involve him at home to Huddersfield in their EFL Trophy opener next week.
Grant McCann has delivered positive news on the injury that forced Tom Nixon off in the midweek EFL Cup clash at Everton.
The full-back, who rejoined the club on a permanent basis from Hull City this summer after a loan spell last term, withdrew at Goodison Park after a coming-together with James Garner in the build-up to the hosts' opening goal.
He was substituted just minutes later with McCann confirming it was an ankle concern. Now, issuing an update ahead of the Saturday lunchtime league trip to Port Vale, McCann said of Nixon: "He's okay. He's hopefully got a chance for the weekend. Obviously he had to come off (at Everton)
Town unexpectedly scored through debutant Hodge t......Oh the injury front, defender Tom Lees is fully fit while Rhys Healey is being monitored...."Rhys is a bit touch and go. He pulled out of training on Monday,
and Brodie Spencer, who was called up to the Northern Ireland squad..not sure Brodie will be taking much part in that (international) camp because his shoulder looks a little bit worse than what we thought. We think it's going to be six weeks.
and David Kasumu are out for around a month, if not more....ruptured one of his ankle ligaments
two strikers head out on loan to League Two clubs
Kian Harratt and Kyle Hudlin have been allowed to leave Huddersfield Town
Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Lineup here
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Lineup here
We say: Doncaster Rovers X-Y Huddersfield Town
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