BARROW AFC are set discover who they will face in their first Football League match for 48 years when the fixtures are released next week.

The Bluebirds' pre-season campaign is in full swing - and fans have been eagerly awaiting the publication of the fixture list ever since the EFL announced the new season would kick off on September 12.

In an announcement on Thursday, EFL bosses confirmed the fixtures will be released on Friday August 21 at 9am.

Due to the league starting six weeks later than it usually would, both League One and League Two clubs will face a total of 11 midweek fixtures throughout the campaign. David Dunn's men will also go into the EFL Trophy on their return to the Football League, with the competition getting underway on September 7.

The group stages of competition, which involves a string of Under 23 Premier League sides, will be drawn live on TalkSport 2 on Tuesday at 1.30pm.

And Bluebirds fans will also be keen to learn who their side will face in the Carabao Cup, with the EFL also confirming that the first four rounds of the competition will take place in September.

It will kick off on September 5, with rounds two, three and four taking place on consecutive midweek dates starting on September 15 and 16.

It comes as FA Cup replays were scrapped for next season to help with fixture congestion.