THE FOOTBALL League Trophy will always have a special place on Eoin Doyle’s CV.

It may be dismissed as a minor competition by many but the City striker has a Wembley goal to show from it.

Doyle was in the Chesterfield side beaten by Peterborough in the 2014 final.

The Spireites lost 3-1 to Posh, who had his future Valley Parade team-mates Nat Knight-Percival and Jack Payne in their ranks, but the frontman had the consolation of scoring at the national stadium.

So he can understand the awards that are eventually at stake from the tournament.

Doyle said: “We lost on the day at Wembley but I managed to nick a goal. So, I always have that on my CV.

“The goal was a tap-in from about eight yards and I also remember I should have had a penalty in the first minute.

“It is one of those weird competitions where, once you look into it, things don’t really get going until the quarters or the semi and Wembley is just around the corner.

“For clubs in Leagues One and Two, it is rare to get to Wembley. But this competition brings an opportunity.

“I got to the final and that was a great weekend, all the build-up and so on. It is very good.”

Tonight’s opening group game against Everton’s academy hardly sets the pulse racing.

But Doyle views it as a chance to halt the current losing run – and a welcome change from the rigours of David Hopkin’s training regime.

He added: “This is a game to go out and win and we need wins for confidence. It doesn’t matter the competition, we just needs wins.

“We can’t pick and choose what games we win.

“To have a couple of blank Tuesdays helped massively. But we are now at the stage where the lads are desperate for a Tuesday to get a rest.

“Training has been that tough because the gaffer has been getting our fitness levels up. At the same time, he is implementing how he wants us to play.

“That can be difficult. But we are all buying into it and really looking forward to the games coming up.”