The former Newcastle Jets man has been in and out of the side in recent weeks due to a series of niggling injuries but he returned for his club’s last outing against Sheffield United at the weekend.

His performance against David Carney’s Blades delighted boss Johnson and he is now looking to Carle to take that form into the Championship play-offs.

The Ashton Gate boss told the Bristol Evening Post: “That was by far Nick Carle’s best game for us. He showed why we brought him to the club in the first place.

“He was full of running, kept the ball superbly and did what he needed to do with it. We needed someone to come in and take on that playmaker role in the centre of midfield and he showed he could do that.

“Nick’s had to contend with a few injuries this season and has not played as much as he would have liked. He had a hamstring problem when he first came to us.

"But he’s properly fit now and finding his form at just the right time. It’s taken time for the penny to drop but he’s now beginning to play the Gary Johnson way.

“He knows what I want and he’s producing it now on the pitch. His performance against Sheffield helped the team rediscover its form.”