Erik ten Hag isn't the only one at Manchester United who Ruud van Nistelrooy can help

You can almost hear the strains from the Stretford End now, the noises that sounded like boos but meant the complete opposite. Ruud.

As a child of the nineties who followed Manchester United avidly in the noughties, it's hard not to get excited by the prospect of Ruud van Nistelrooy returning to the club. From both a nostalgic and footballing standpoint, it makes total sense.

The current understanding is that the former United striker is considering joining Erik ten Hag's coaching staff as a first team coach, having stepped down as PSV Eindhoven manager last year. United have sounded him out but Van Nistelrooy has also been approached by Burnley for the top job at Turf Moor.

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The hope is that he will go with the red-tinted spectacles and rekindle his affinity with United. Van Nistelrooy departed from Old Trafford under a cloud in 2006 after a fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson, but has retained his affection for the club despite that.

Speaking to Gary Neville in an interview for The Overlap, Van Nistelrooy said: “I felt the relationship we had [he and Ferguson] made me react in a way that I don’t feel was me. I had to apologise for that and [Ferguson] accepted that directly. We kept in touch and then I felt that the apology was worth it, because the relationship was intact again.”

As well as that clear respect for United's tradition and history, Van Nistelrooy would bring a whole heap of experience if he returns as part of Ten Hag's backroom team.

His coaching CV is pretty impressive. Van Nistelrooy held positions with the Netherlands national side and in the PSV