Leeds United's Under-21s will take part in a new cup competition conceived by the Premier League and National League.

The National League Cup will be contested by 16 Premier League teams' Under-21 sides and 16 clubs currently plying their trade in the fifth tier of English football.

A 32-team competition, the National League Cup will begin in four, eight-team group stages with the Under-21 sides - of which Leeds are one - will face off against the non-league outfits. Only the top two of each group will advance to the knockout stage where a combined £1 million prize fund is on offer, provided by the Premier League but eligible to be paid only to the National League clubs. In addition, all gate receipts will be due to National League clubs.

The initiative is, according to the Premier League: "designed to give young players from Premier League and EFL clubs additional opportunities to test themselves against senior opposition, with the aim of further aiding elite player development."

The competition begins next month and fixtures will take place in midweek with Leeds drawn in Group C alongside Halifax Town, Gateshead, Boston United and Tamworth.

Leeds' fellow Premier League 2 teams also drawn in Group C are Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

U21s head coach Scott Gardner is currently unbeaten with the Leeds youngsters this season having drawn all four of their opening fixtures by a 1-1 scoreline. This year, Leeds are competing in Premier League 2, the Premier League Cup and the National League Cup but have not entered the EFL Trophy which pits U21 sides against League One and League Two sides, or the Premier League International Cup, which last season saw Leeds face 'B' teams of European clubs.