Reading are preparing to welcome football royalty to the Royal County this evening as giants Ajax open their Premier League International Cup campaign at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

For the first time in over five years, Reading Under-21s are part of the European elite and look for their first win in the prestigious competition at the seventh time of asking.

Playing in the second tier of Dutch football, Jong Ajax sit in the top 10 and continue to display the historic traits of 'Total Football' championed by the former European champions.

Take a look below at three stars of the future to watch for if you're heading down to the SCL Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Julian Rijkhoff

Far and away the biggest name in contention to play, 19-year-old Rijkhoff has regularly scored goals for both Ajax and Borussia Dortmund youth sides.

A Dutch Under-19 international, the striker has already featured 11 times for the senior side as well as firing goals for the youth teams.

In a hot vein of form, the teenager has scored four goals in seven appearances this season and will be difficult for the Royals' defence to manage.

Jan Jakub Faberski

A Poland youth international, Faberski has impressed in the Ajax midfield and scored in a 3-0 win over Eindhoven last month.

The youngest midfielder to feature for the side this season, he promises to be a jewel which Ajax look to protect going forward.

Jorthy Mokio

Incredibly, Mokio is just 16 but already playing for Belgium Under-21s on the regular and scored against Kazakhstan 

He backed this up with a strike in the Erste Division and made his debut for the senior team in Europa League action.

Evidently highly touted for the future, and present, supporters should remember the name Mokio.