The Dutch are long overdue some footballing success on a grand scale and maybe this year's Euro 2008 tournament will allow some of their young players to shine through and show Europe just how good they really are.

One player that stands out a mile for me is striking sensation Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. As a keen football results follower I have seen the young attacker on Ajax’s goalscoring sheet consistently over the past three years and, at only 24 years of age, Huntelaar is yet to reach his physical peak and can still develop his skills even further.

He is a star striker and it is only because he has chosen to stay at his beloved Ajax that Huntelaar is still unknown to many a footballing fan. But that will all change after the Netherlands' opening match of the European Championship against Italy on June 9.

'He has scored seven times in 12 matches for the senior national squad and he has now, I believe, overtaken Ruud van Nistelrooy as Holland's most dangerous and formidable striker'


Huntelaar is bound to show his ambition at the tournament and will surely have every Premier League manager getting his cheque book out in a race for his signature.

What I think makes Huntelaar so spectacular is his strike rate. OK, the Dutch league isn’t the strongest in Europe by any means, but his scoring capabilities are second to none.

The out-and-out striker has a terrific record with Dutch domestic giants Ajax, scoring a brilliant 70 goals in only 82 appearances for the club. And before his time at Ajax, he was just as dominant up front for fellow Eredivisie side Heerenveen.

Huntelaar has experience in the Champions League and has scored some important goals in Europe for his club, showing his liking for the big occasion. This will help when he takes to the pitch in Euro 2008.

He was a great success at the World Under-21 Championships, scoring four goals on the way to leading his team to the trophy. He has scored seven times in 12 matches for the senior national squad and he has now, I believe, overtaken Ruud van Nistelrooy as Holland's most dangerous and formidable striker.

After the Dutch season ended, Huntelaar was linked with a £16million move to Manchester United, who are the favourites to sign him. A Rooney-Huntelaar front two – with Ronaldo just behind them – would be fantastic to see. I’m sure after Euro 2008 Huntelaar's transfer fee could increase significantly as he comes to prominence and enters the media spotlight.

I think he is simply brilliant – and those that disagree with me will soon see how good this lad really is. He is set to emulate his achievements with Ajax with the national side.

It's 20 years since the Netherlands won the European Championship and who would bet against them this year with the quality they have in the side? I certainly think they have a great chance and Huntelaar is the key man to help them achieve success.