NEWPORT County AFC will take on West Ham United under-21s, as well as League Two rivals Exeter City and Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy group stage.

The last time a Hammers side came to Newport they were beaten 2-1 in the FA Cup third round in January 1979.

The teams also met in Division Two in the 1946-1947 season when West Ham won 3-0 at Upton Park and drew 1-1 at Somerton Park.

The competition, formerly known as the Checkatrade Trophy, features a total of 64 teams.

The group stage is made up of the 48 teams from League One and League Two and 16 Category One academy sides.

The teams are split into 16 regional groups of four teams, with eight groups from the northern region and eight from the southern region.

Academy sides will play each of the other three sides in their group away from home, with the top two teams qualifying for the knockout stages, which remain regionalised until the quarter-finals.

The first round of matches in the competition take place in the first week of September.

The final will be played at Wembley on April 5 next year.