OXFORD United face Norwich City U21s in the Leasing.com Trophy tonight, with the Premier League side set to field a host of young prospects.

Competition rules state the Premier League side must start at least six players aged 21 or under on June 30 this year, but do not expect the majority of the Canaries line-up to be gracing the first team anytime soon.

United have faced under 21 sides from Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Hove Albion, Fulham and Chelsea since the trophy first included Premier League academy sides in 2016/17.

But of the teams the U's have come up against, only the Blues have seemingly made the most of the controversial competition - here are some players that have made the grade.

Mason Mount

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The English midfielder was just 17 when he faced United in the group stage in November 2016.

Mount was substituted in second-half stoppage time in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea eventually won 13-12 on penalties.

After a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem in 2017/18, his sparkling form during another temporary move to Derby County last year helped the Sky Bet Championship side to the play-off final.

Also read: Oxford United's Dan Agyei set for debut against Norwich City Under 21s tonight

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has put his faith in the 20-year-old so far this season, with Mount starting the first three Premier League games and scoring against Leicester City and Norwich.

Callum Hudson-Odoi 

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The winger's potential was clear to see when he helped Chelsea beat United 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the 2017/18 competition.

Hudson-Odoi laid on two goals in seven minutes to kill the tie, just months after he was part of England's U17 World Cup-winning squad.

The teenager broke into the Chelsea side 12 months ago under former boss Maurizio Sarri and looked the part in a series of impressive performances.

He was called up to the England senior squad in March, coming on as a substitute against the Czech Republic and starting against Montenegro.

Ethan Ampadu

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Ampadu started in the middle of a back three in Chelsea's 3-0 victory over United in 2018, playing the full 90 minutes.

He joined Chelsea from Exeter - for whom he played against the U's in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy aged 15 - in July 2017 and signed a five-year contract last year, but is spending this season on loan at German side RB Leipzig.

The defender was an unused substitute in the Bundesliga club's first league game of the season.

Kazaiah Sterling

The only non-Chelsea player to make the list is Tottenham Hotspur striker Kazaiah Sterling.

Sterling played the full 90 minutes in his club's 3-0 defeat to United in last year's second round, but his best opportunity was a one-on-one chance saved by U's keeper Simon Eastwood. 

He spent the second half of last season at Sunderland and is currently on loan at Doncaster Rovers.