At the home of the Eredivisie club Willem II, in the town of Tilburg, two of English football’s most promising young talents will face one another for their respective Dutch clubs a week on Sunday – Dan Crowley and Jake Clarke-Salter, the latest making their reputations in Europe.

Crowley will be in midfield for Willem II, whom he joined on a permanent deal from Arsenal in the summer of last year; while Clarke-Salter, on loan from Chelsea, will be in the centre of defence for Vitesse Arnhem. Both 21-year-olds have started every one of their respective sides’ 12 league games so far this season, and have made the league’s team of the week on more than one occasion – a benchmark in these parts.

They are at different stages in adapting to life in a new country and between the two of them decide on Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport as the most convenient place for us to meet. Clarke-Salter’s girlfriend Abby has come to live with him in Arnhem. Crowley, who has been playing in Holland for almost three years, lives on his own in Tilburg and admits he does find it lonely at times. Both are from big families - with four younger siblings each - but career comes first. Crowley has bought himself a dog.