The tie represents Ben Wilkinson’s first in the competition this term after we reached the last-four in 2022/23.
Following a fantastic campaign in the historic tournament last year, we were denied a place in the final following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Arsenal after extra-time.
And our meeting with the Hornets is set to take place on Saturday 16 December 2023 at 19:00 (UK), but stay close to mancity.com for full fixture details.
City’s youngsters currently sit third in the Premier League Under-18 North table having won five, drawn one and lost one of our opening seven games.
Meanwhile, Watford sit 10th in the southern U18 Professional Development league standings.
FULL THIRD ROUND DRAW
Harrogate Town v Brighton & Hove Albion
Sheffield United v Cheltenham Town or Dorking Wanderers
Cardiff City v Fulham
Luton Town v Swindon Town
Everton v Leighton Town or Stockport County
Sheffield Wednesday v Hemel Hempstead Town or Exeter City
Burton Albion or Chester-Le-Street United v Aston Villa
Morecambe or Fleetwood Town v Liverpool
Reading or Forest Green Rovers v Rotherham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers
Burnley v Birmingham City
West Ham United v Southampton
Plymouth Argyle v Crystal Palace
Grimsby Town v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City v Chelsea
Barnsley or Bradford City v Lincoln City or Walsall
Arsenal v Crewe Alexandra
West Bromwich Albion v AFC Bournemouth
Huddersfield Town v Erith & Belvedere or Charlton Athletic
AFC Wimbledon or Stevenage v Blackburn Rovers
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Watford v City
Newcastle United v Leyton Orient or Tring Athletic
Ipswich Town v Swansea City
Norwich City v Leeds United
Millwall v Barking
Bristol City v Stoke City
AFC Fylde or Accrington Stanley v Hull City
Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers or Derby County
Preston North End v Coventry City
Gillingham or Eastleigh v Oxford United or Sutton United
