Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has delivered his verdict on popular winger Niclas Eliasson, after receiving plenty of criticism from fans for underusing the Swede this season.

But Johnson has moved to make it clear just how much he values the 24-year-old, saying he is destined to be playing in the Premier League within the next three years.

"He's not the finished article but when Niclas Eliasson is 27 he's going to be amazing," he told his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, reported by The Bristol Post.

"But that's where we are. Probably, at 27, unless we're in the Premier League, there's a good chance he won't be here.

"We have to polish the diamond into a top one and I think he can be."

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In 22 appearances this season in the Championship, Eliasson has netted two goals and assisted an impressive ten for his teammates.

They are statistics that look all the more impressive when you consider he has started less than half of those matches, which also makes the frustration felt by fans all the more understandable.

This weekend sees City travel to Wigan Athletic in a match that Johnson will be desperate to win after losing five of his last six second-tier matches.

A 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup last weekend did little to aleviate that pressure as well.

The verdict

In fairness, I thin Johnson is absolutely right here, although it still leaves questions as to why he has been so underused this season.

The winger is clearly a huge talent and just how much he has improved during his time at the club is extremely exciting - so surely he should be a regular starter in the City XI?

I believe that no player should be guaranteed a place in the team each week but Eliasson must be wondering what he has to do to warrant a regular spot after some of his recent displays.