CONFIRMED: When Doncaster Rovers' fixtures will be announced and when cup competitions will begin

The first round of the Carabao Cup is set to be played on the weekend of September 5 - one week prior to the scheduled start of the league season.

And the first matches in the group stage of the EFL Trophy will be held on September 8.

League One fixtures will be announced at 9am on Friday, August 21. The EFL have confirmed there will be 11 midweek rounds of fixtures in the initial fixture release.

With September 5 falling on an international weekend, should Rovers be drawn against a Championship side in the first round of the Carabao Cup, the tie is likely to switch dates.

There have been suggestions clubs would have the option of playing such ties a week earlier on August 29 but the EFL have only stated the matches would be played ‘on alternative dates.’

The draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Tuesday, August 18. As in previous seasons, the first two rounds will be regionalised on a north and south basis. The semi-finals will not be played over two legs, as has previously been the case.

The draw for EFL Trophy will also take place on August 18.

It has also been confirmed that there will be no replays in the FA Cup this season.

CARABAO CUP DATESFirst round - September 5

Second round - September 15/16

Third round - September 22/23

Fourth round - September 29/30

Fifth round - December 22/23

Semi-finals - January 5/6

Final - February 28

EFL TROPHY DATES

Group match 1 - September 8/9

Group match 2 - October 6/7

Group match 3 - November 10/11

Round of 32 - December 8/9

RRound of 16 - January 12/13

Quarter-finals - February 2/3

Semi-finals - February 16/17

Final - March 14

CLUBS ENTERING U21 TEAMS INTO EFL TROPHY

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

*

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.