When Sunderland and Hartlepool United will learn Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy opponents plus former Cats defender leaves Arsenal

The first-round Carabao Cup Round draw will take place live on Sky Sports at 3:40pm on Thursday 24 June, the same day the EFL fixture lists will be released.

Like last year’s competition, the first round will be drawn in Northern and Southern sections, meaning Sunderland could draw one of 34 sides including EFL newcomers Hartlepool United and Sheffield United.

First-round ties will take place on the week commencing August 9.

The Papa John’s Trophy draw will then take place live on Sky Sports at 4:30pm, which will also be split into Northern and Southern sections and include 16 invited Under-21 sides.

Steve Bould to leave Arsenal

Elsewhere, former Sunderland defender Steve Bould will leave Arsenal this summer.

The former centre-back has been running the Gunners’ under-23s for the past two seasons, having previously worked as assistant manager under Arsene Wenger.

Announcing the decision, academy manager Per Mertesacker said: “Steve has been a fantastic servant for us on and off the pitch. His record as a player speaks for itself and he has been an inspiration to generations of young players coming through the academy.

“This has been a very hard decision to make. Steve’s contribution to the under-23s and the club as a whole has been huge and he will always be an important figure in our history.”

Max Power targeting promotion

Finally, former Sunderland midfielder Max Power wants to ‘defy the odds’ with Wigan this season.

The 27-year-old has returned to the DW Stadium and told BBC Radio Manchester that Leam Richardson’s side are targeting promotion from League One.

“The conversations I had with Leam Richardson who I’ve worked with before, that’s what sold the move back to Wigan for me,” said Power.

“The ambition is promotion and the signings the club had already made and the targets they’re still trying to sign excite me.

“I’m under no illusion if you look at the division next year, it’s probably one of the strongest League One divisions I’ve ever seen on paper with the names that are going to be knocking around.

“Wigan are a football club that seems to defy the odds so I’m hoping this season is more of the same.”

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