Albion could be invited to play their under-21s in the Football League Trophy.

The competition, traditionally reserved for League One and Two clubs culminating in a Wembley final, has been revamped this season.

The Football League have invited 15 Premier League clubs with academy one status plus relegated Newcastle to enter sides to give fresh impetus to the competition formerly known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Manchester City and Spurs have already declined, while Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are expected to follow suit. Other category one academies are set to be given the chance to take part in the competition – which will feature new group stages due to begin next month – in place of those who turn down the opportunity.

A spokesman confirmed: “The EFL is currently awaiting responses from a number of clubs that have been invited to take part in this season’s EFL Trophy. Already a number of clubs have accepted our invitation to take part.

“In any instances where clubs decline, we will issue invitations to other clubs with category one academies in the order in which they finished in the 2015-16 domestic league tables.

“We will then confirm the final line-up of competing clubs once we have received a full set of responses.”

Everton, Southampton, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea and West Brom are all intending to take part but it is unclear whether Premier League champions Leicester, as well as Middlesbrough, West Ham and Newcastle, are willing to be involved.

With the top grading of academy status the qualifying criteria, it means the likes of Albion, Norwich, Aston Villa, Derby, Wolves and Blackburn from the Championship are set to be asked to make up the numbers.

The move to invite academy teams to play alongside Crawley and the other 47 lower league clubs has already attracted criticism from clubs and fans worried about the possible introduction of Premier League B teams into the EFL, with top flight sides able to field five players older than 21 in any EFL Trophy fixture.

The reformed tournament will see 64 teams split into 16 groups of four, on a north-south regional basis, each containing an invited club and they will play each other once, with the invited club playing one game at home.

Teams will earn three points for a win and a point for a draw, but if the scores are tied after 90 minutes an extra point will go to the winner of a penalty shoot-out. The top two from each group will then proceed to a regional knock-out round of 32, with the rounds of 16, eight and four being free draws.

These will all be single ties and will be settled by penalties after 90 minutes, although that may change for the semi-final and Wembley final.