Erik ten Hag has given Zidane Iqbal and other Manchester United youngsters a new challenge

One of Erik ten Hag's greatest strengths during his success in Amsterdam was playing to the strengths of the football club he took over. Ajax's academy is one of the greatest talent production lines in world football and the Dutchman used it to build the core of two outstanding teams.

Ten Hag has a reputation for building youthful teams but that wasn't strictly the case at Ajax. A lot of his signings were in their late 20s or early 30s, but those players added experience to a young core that had come together through the academy.

Frenkie de Jong was one player who was signed young and then flourished, but many others, such at Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek, Ryan Gravenberch and Jurrien Timber came through the system and were then trusted by Ten Hag. They all delivered success to the club.

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There are certainly similarities between the talent factories at Ajax and Manchester United. Ten Hag has moved to a club with a proud record of including an academy graduate in every first-team squad since 1937.

That astonishing run shouldn't be in danger of ending anytime soon, either, given the latest crop of youngsters won the FA Youth Cup just two months ago. And there are plenty on tour who are getting a taste of senior football under Ten Hag this summer.

Zidane Iqbal was a standout performer in midfield in the second half against Liverpool in Bangkok, playing alongside Charlie Savage. Anthony Elanga has established himself as a first-team player and that is the next challenge for some of these players.

Given his display against Liverpool there has to be a good chance Iqbal will feature against Melbourne Victory at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground today. James