Erik ten Hag’s final Ajax debutant is now set to face Man Utd, and put himself in the shop window

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Manchester United are set to kick off the Europa League campaign this week against Dutch side FC Twente.

FC Twente are an interesting opponent for Manchester United this week, the team manager Erik ten Hag supports.

Twente won their game at the weekend 5-0, with dangerman Sam Steijn netting two goals in the victory.

There is a player in the Twente side who Erik ten Hag knows well, who could audition for a future role too.

Ten Hag handed debut to Anass Salah-Eddine

Erik ten Hag handed debuts to 23 different academy players at Ajax during his time at the Dutch club.

It is a theme he has continued at Manchester United, with seven academy talents handed debuts already under Ten Hag.

The final player Ten Hag gave a debut to at Ajax was youngster Anass Salah-Eddine, 20 at the time.

Salah-Eddine was a 67th minute substitute in the 2-2 draw at Vitesse in May 2022, with the Eredivisie title already won, and Ten Hag saying his goodbyes before leaving for Manchester United.

The next season Salah-Eddine went on to make nine appearances at Ajax, but this was a tumultuous season following the departure of Ten Hag and multiple key players. The structure he needed was gone.

Salah-Eddine went out on loan to Twente in January 2023, and ended up signing with them permanently. He has gone onto make 31 appearances for them so far.

Salah-Eddine plays in United position of need

Anass Salah-Eddine plays at left-back, a position where Manchester United are light of healthy options, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia persistently out injured.

The 22-year-old is a Netherlands under-21 international, also eligible to play for Morocco at international level if he wishes.

At the weekend he scored his first ever goal for FC Twente in their 5-0 win over Almere, also providing an assist in the victory.

It was a complete performance, with Salah-Eddine creating three chances, while also rock solid at the back, and he will head to Old Trafford full of confidence.

Big matches like these are great opportunities for players to raise their profiles, and Salah-Eddine will be keen to catch Erik ten Hag’s eye again, perhaps fully aware of United’s need for a left-back.