BRISTOL City boss Gary Johnson has given goalkeeper Chris Weale an overwhelming vote of confidence ahead of Saturday's crucial Coca-Cola Championship showdown with Wolves at Molineux.

Back in the starting line-up because of injury to first-choice stopper Adriano Basso, Weale is desperate to earn an extended run of games for the first time since moving to Ashton Gate two seasons ago.

Johnson claims Yeovil-born Weale is once again displaying the form which once made him a target for Premier League West Ham United.

A product of Yeovil's youth academy system, Weale established a reputation as one of the most capable goalkeepers in the lower divisions while making 159 League appearances for the Glovers.

But a succession of injuries and the form of Basso, last season's player of the year, has restricted his understudy to just nine starts since he arrived at Ashton Gate.

Weale signed a new one-year contract in the summer and vowed to force his way into City's Championship team. Given his chance when Basso limped out of the recent 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham with a calf strain, the number two did everything right as City beat Doncaster 4-1 last time out.

And he is now in line to retain his place when City take on leaders Wolves this weekend.

"I think Chris is showing the form that made him a regular at Yeovil," declared Johnson, who gave the keeper his big break while in charge at Huish Park. "He's had his problems with injury and he's had to be very patient watching from the bench while Basso has done so well.

"But he's fully fit now and he's back to his very best. We've seen that in training and we've seen it in the matches he's played this season."

He added: "We're very fortunate to have two such capable goalkeepers fighting it out for the shirt. That's the level of competition you need in the Championship."

Basso was still under treatment this week and Weale is hoping to face the Championship leaders at Molineux and further stake his claim for a regular place in the starting line-up.

Johnson seldom alters a winning side and he said: "It's easier for the manager when the team is doing well. I tend to like continuity."

Yet Johnson faces a dilemma in the centre of midfield after Marvin Elliott made a successful return from injury against Doncaster.

Now fully recovered from the knee problem which sidelined him in July and throughout August, the 23-year-old Londoner replaced Bradley Orr at half time and demonstrated the form which earned him the club's young player of the year accolade at the end of last season.

Orr is expected to line up at right-back on Saturday, leaving the manager to perm two from Elliott, Cole Skuse and Lee Johnson in the centre of midfield.

Skuse and Johnson have performed with credit in the engine room so far this season and Elliott acknowledges he will have to fight hard to earn a start at Molineux.

He admitted: "It's going to be hard for me to get back into the team from the start.

"Lee Johnson and Cole Skuse have started the season and done very well. But I believe I can get back in the side and I'll be working hard every day."

Wolves will definitely be without leading scorer Chris Iwelumo for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash in the Black Country after an appeal against his sending off at Preston last weekend ended in failure.

Shown a straight red card following a clash with North End defender Sean St Ledger, the former Charlton raider will serve a three-match ban. Wolves will also be without Welsh international goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, sent off in the same match.