Like fellow youngster Anton Ferdinand, Elliot has improved in the last year to such an extent that Tony can see the pair of them pushing on this season and giving the established defenders at the club a run for their money.
"Elliot is a different type of player to Anton, stronger and more commanding in the air, physically more developed than Anton, and they have both got their pluses and their minuses like all players," says Tony.
"It is not one or the other, it is who can, if not both, break through the reserves or maybe the first team in preseason - and prove they are worthy.
"It is not 'either or', it could be both - and let's hope it is.
"I hope they are going to start the push now; I know the boys, obviously, and they are ambitious enough not to just wait for the chance but to push for the chance by showing what they can do in training, in and around the first team squad, in the reserve team, to catch the eye.
"It is a matter of forcing your way in rather than waiting to be put in."