Manchester United legends clash in Carabao Cup first round

Manchester United fans will have a stronger interest than usual in this year’s Carabao Cup first round after the draw pitted former Old Trafford heroes against each other. 

Championship outfit Derby, managed by all-time Red Devils top scorer Wayne Rooney, will welcome League Two Salford to Pride Park — with the ambitious Ammies famously part-owned by some familiar faces. 

Class of '92 icons David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville all have a part-stake in the club and have been the driving force behind their local side's rise up the divisions in recent years.

It is a tie that the fourth-tier outfit will be relishing, with Gary Bowyer’s men considered among the favourites for the League Two title next season. 

Meanwhile, Rooney will be more concerned with keeping his Rams side out of trouble in the league after only narrowly avoiding a disastrous relegation to League One on the final day of 2020-21. 

Elsewhere, EFL new boys Sutton United have a tasty trip to Wales to look forward to after being drawn away to Championship Cardiff. 

Fans of the U’s, who were promoted from the non-league for the first time in the club’s 123-year history last term, will be pinching themselves at the prospect of a trip to the 33,200 capacity Cardiff City Stadium in August. 

In contrast, Sheffield United — the highest-ranked side entering at this stage — will endure a bump back to reality following Premier League relegation when they welcome Carlisle to Bramall Lane. 

Manchester City won the competition for a fourth consecutive season in 2020-21 after edging out Tottenham 1-0 in April’s final.

Spurs will enter the competition in the next round along with 14 other sides, while the seven English clubs competing in Europe don’t arrive until round three. 

Northern section:

Sheffield Wednesday vs Huddersfield Town 

Derby County vs Salford City 

Hartlepool United vs Crewe Alexandra

Shrewsbury Town vs Lincoln City

Mansfield Town vs Preston North End 

Port Vale vs Sunderland 

Sheffield United vs Carlisle United 

Blackpool vs Middlesbrough 

Harrogate Town vs Rochdale 

Stoke City vs Fleetwood Town 

Walsall vs Doncaster Rovers 

Oldham Atheltic vs Tranmere Rovers

Rotherham United vs Accrington Stanley 

Barrow vs Scunthorpe United 

Hull City vs Wigan Athletic 

Bolton Wanderers vs Barnsley 

Nottingham Forest vs Bradford City 

Blackburn Rovers vs Morecambe

Southern section:

Cambridge United vs Swindon Town 

Exeter City vs Wycombe Wanderers

Crawley Town vs Gillingham 

Burton Albion vs Oxford United

Coventry City vs Northampton Town

Ipswich Town vs Newport County

Forest Green Rovers vs Bristol City

Reading vs Swansea City

Cardiff City vs Sutton United

Bournemouth vs MK Dons 

Bristol Rovers vs Cheltenham Town

Peterborough United vs Plymouth Argyle 

Leyton Orient vs QPR 

Stevenage vs Luton Town

Millwall vs Portsmouth 

Birmingham City vs Colchester United

Charlton Athletic vs AFC Wimbledon