Former Denmark international Kenneth Perez has criticised Ajax youngster Christian Eriksen, saying that he "expected more" of the 20-year-old this season and insisted he cannot be relied upon to carry his nation through Euro 2012.

The attacking midfielder has been a key player for Ajax since breaking into the first-team as an 18-year-old and has been tipped to be Denmark’s key player in Ukraine and Poland.

Perez, however, does not think Eriksen’s performances this season have been good enough to merit the hype he has generated in recent months and revealed he has been disappointed with the midfielder during Ajax’s title-winning campaign, but insists he still sees a bright future for the former OB player.

“Eriksen is the Danish hope in anxious days,” the former Ajax and Twente player told De Telegraaf. “But I don’t think he can carry the team just yet.

“To be honest, I don’t think he has played particularly well with Ajax this season. I expected more from him.

“I think he's still a bit phlegmatic. I expect a player with his qualities in his position to be more important to the team and certainly to score more.

“But eventually I see a rosy future for him, with his qualities he will be there.”

Perez’s compatriot Ivan Nielsen, however, disagrees. The ex-Feyenoord and PSV player believes the Ajax star can make the difference for Denmark this summer.

He said: “For years, he has been the main talent of Danish football. When I see him play, I think of Johan Cruyff with whom I have played together at Feyenoord.

“Eriksen will prove it at the European Championships. He has the ability to be a very big player, but can he show it? The pressure might be too large for a 20-year-old to cope with.”

Eriksen scored seven goals in 33 Eredivisie games this season as Ajax claimed their 31st league title.