Having lived out one dream already this year, Swansea City's New Zealand star Elijah Just hopes his unusual journey will lead all the way to the Premier League.

Just remembers getting up as a kid in the early hours of the morning to see New Zealand play at the World Cup and to watch Premier League football. Sixteen years after the All Whites went to South Africa 2010, Just fulfilled one boyhood dream this summer by starring for New Zealand as they returned to the World Cup. Now comes the challenge of reaching the Premier League.

Not so long ago, the idea of the 26-year-old playing in England's top flight may have appeared a little fanciful. Not now. Just is a regular in the midfield of a Swansea City side who sit second in the second tier before their trip to Lincoln City this Saturday (15:00 BST).

"I've had some up and downs throughout my career and yeah, getting to this stage has been quite the journey," the attacking midfielder says. "In New Zealand, everyone that follows football watches the Premier League - you wake up in the morning to catch the game."

Just's footballing journey began when he left home at the age of 14 to join the Ole Football Academy in Porirua. Through a trial in Denmark, he earned his first professional contract with Helsingor. After stints with Horsens, SKN St Polten and Motherwell, his performances helped Swansea secure a strong start to the Championship season.