Could Bristol City defender Aden Flint be the next non-league graduate to make it to the Premier League?

Those at former club Alfreton Town certainly believe so, where Flint spent three years before being sold to Swindon Town.

The 26 year-old has been dubbed 'Premier League class' by Bristol City boss Lee Johnson and is being scouted by the likes of Sunderland and West Brom ahead of the summer market. At Alfreton, news of top-flight interest in the 6ft 5in centre-half comes as no surprise.

"When Aden Flint was at Alfreton, it was plain to see that he was going to go a long way in the game," Alfreton media chief Kev Miles told Tribalfootball.com. "Excuse the pun, but he was head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch and had a massive appetite to want to improve and learn.

"To be fair, I have not seen much of Aden in action for Bristol City but he has obviously done very well over the past twelve months in particular and his goals input will have turned a few Premier League heads."

After his smooth transition from Alfreton to League One, Miles can see Flint comfortably handling the leap from Bristol City to the Premier League.

He explains: "He has progressed fantastically well with every move he has made, each one moving him up a few rungs. He joined Alfreton from very minor football with Pinxton FC for a nominal fee of £1,000 and progressed rapidly before moving to Swindon for £150,000.

"He took that easily in his stride, as he did with the next move from Swindon to Bristol City. He is a very leveled person and has taken every move he has had so far extremely well. I am absolutely certain he will do well in the Premier League, nobody and nothing fazes him."