Premier League the goal in Just's unlikely journey

Elijah 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).

These are early days in the Championship season, and it remains to be seen whether Swansea can maintain their eye-catching form across the long campaign ahead.

But for the moment at least, the Premier League is within sight.

Should Just get there, it would be some achievement given his story so far.

"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.

"Of course it's a long season, but you always hope that you can get there. I think that's everyone's dream."

Just's footballing journey began when he left home at the age of 14 to join the Ole Football Academy, which has produced numerous New Zealand internationals.

It was at the academy, based in the city of Porirua, that Just first met Marko Stamenic – who is now a team-mate at Swansea – as well as "quite a few other boys who are now playing professionally around the world".

Thanks to a link between the academy and the American owners of Danish club Helsingor, Just was one of three players invited to spend a month on trial in Denmark.

The result, shortly after Just's 19th birthday, was the first professional contract of his career.

Just's first year with Helsingor was spent in Danish football's third tier, though he helped them win promotion to the level below the top flight Superliga.

Just moved on to Horsens in 2022, spending one season in the Danish top division before relegation.

He moved to the Austrian second tier with SKN St Polten, on loan in 2024-25, before signing for Motherwell 14 months ago.

There was no great fanfare as Just arrived at Fir Park, yet it proved an inspired signing as he thrived in the Scottish Premiership under Jens Berthel Askou, who he had previously played for at Horsens.

Motherwell impressed many with their stylish football, with Just – who was shortlisted for the Scottish footballer of the year prize – their star performer.

"Coming from New Zealand, just to be able to play football full-time in Europe is something that is quite difficult," Just says.

"I had a nice stroke of luck when one of my old managers, Jens, brought me to Motherwell.

"Then the whole team kind of came together in like this really nice way where we played good football, we exceeded the expectations and I was just lucky to be a part of that."

If Just's contribution at Motherwell had caught the eye of other clubs, his World Cup performances placed him firmly in the shop window.

The Kiwis were rank outsiders as they lined up in football's biggest tournament for only the third time, yet they very quickly looked at home thanks to Just's seventh-minute goal in their opening game against Iran.

He added a second in a 2-2 draw, then managed his third goal of the tournament in the defeat by Belgium which condemned New Zealand to a group stage exit.

"I was really fortunate that the year at Motherwell was so successful that I was able to carry some confidence into the World Cup," Just says.

"I think the way we played, we definitely gave ourselves a chance [of reaching the knockout stages] so that was a little bit disappointing.

"But it was just an incredible experience, not just the games but being there in the Fifa bubble, with the support out on the street and just seeing everyone enjoying football no matter where they came from."

Just says New Zealand's exploits knocked the All Blacks – the nation's men's rugby union team – off the back pages "for a short period of time".

"We got sent videos of kids in school watching and different pubs, bars, things like that," he adds. "The whole nation got behind it, which was pretty special."

Less than a month after bidding farewell to the tournament, Just had joined Swansea for an undisclosed fee which was reported to be in the region of £5m.

He has featured in all seven of the Welsh club's league games to date but feels Swansea fans are still to see his finest form.

"I think I'm still adjusting," Just says.

"I don't think I've shown my best out on the pitch yet but I've still enjoyed it.

"The team that have surrounded me have been great. I'm trying to do anything I can do to help the team."