Tottenham are the latest Premier League side to decline an invitation to take part in the revamped EFL Trophy.

The White Hart Lane club are one of 16 Category One academies to be invited to take part alongside League One and League Two clubs in what was the Football League Trophy sponsored by Johnstone's Paint.

Manchester United have already turned down the offer as they concentrate on the academy league and the U21 Premier League International Cup, while Liverpool and Manchester City also have reservations.

Tottenham's under 21 side, pictured in action against Manchester United, will not play in the EFL Trophy

Former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender, Ugo Ehiogu, is now in charge of Tottenham's under 21 side

CATEGORY ONE ACADEMIES INVITED TO TAKE PART IN EFL TROPHY Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham. Advertisement

The 16 groups of four teams will each comprise an academy side with the top two from each qualifying for the first knockout round of 32 teams. Each academy side are also obliged to play a home game at the club's first team stadium.

Tottenham are firm believers in allowing their young players to compete in senior football and have benefited by sending youngsters out on loan such as Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, Tom Carroll, Danny Rose and Ryan Mason to further their experience and develop.

However, the scheduling of the EFL Trophy group stage fixtures clash with international breaks when a lot of the club's academy players would be unavailable as they are away representing their countries.

Manchester United, pictured after winning the U21s League in April, will not compete in the EFL Trophy

Barnsley were the last winners of the Football League Trophy in its old format, beating Oxford at Wembley

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United are the other clubs also invited to take part.

The group stages will start in the last week of August, with the knockout rounds beginning at the start of December and the final on April 2.

'The new format is intended to rejuvenate this competition and also assist the development of the very best young players in English football,” said Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey.

'This will help us deliver more and better home-grown players which will deliver benefits to the national team and domestic league football at all levels.'