It’s fair to say both Leicester City and Philip Billing have made a bit of progress since the Huddersfield Town midfielder made his debut against the Foxes at the John Smith’s Stadium in April 2014.

Of course Leicester, who went up from the Championship that season, are on the cusp of a first-ever top-flight title.

Meanwhile midfielder Billing, who will turn 20 in June, has 13 more games, a spectacular maiden senior goal and a new contract under his belt.

The deal the Dane signed last month runs until 2020, and the 6ft 5in player who moved from Esbjerg in 2013 is happy to have put down some roots.

“It feels great to have the new contract,” he said. “I am happy here and starting to play games too, and that’s really important.

“I knew the best option for me personally was to sign a new deal.

“The boss (David Wagner) has told me if I keep working hard I will play, and that’s my focus.”

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It’s been quite a learning curve for Billing, who has experienced the lows of injuries and a red card (at MK Dons in February) as well as the highs of his full debut (at Reading in November) and that long-distance strike at Nottingham Forest in February.

“There have been some tough times,” admitted the Denmark junior international, who was ruled out during the early weeks of Wagner’s reign by an ankle injury, missed last Saturday’s home draw with Birmingham City because of a calf problem and has been ruled out of the trip to Bristol City.

“Injuries are going to be part and parcel of my career, so you have to learn to deal with them.

“You can say the same for red cards, although I still don’t think I should have had one (it was controversially awarded for what was deemed a dangerous challenge).

“I didn’t expect a yellow to be fair, so I was shocked by the red.”

On the positive side, Billing is thriving under Wagner after making an impression during the last months of Chris Powell’s reign.

On his old Charlton Athletic stomping ground, Powell called on Billing as a half-time substitute as Town picked up their first win of the campaign in September.

“It was a big moment for me, I think I did okay, and it went from there,” he added.

Billing’s full debut came in Powell’s last match in charge, the 2-2 draw at Reading in November.

He started the next game at home to Leeds, when Mark Lillis was in caretaker charge, but during the 3-0 derby defeat picked up the injury which prevented him going on the Spanish training trip which followed Wagner’s arrival.

His first appearance under the current head coach came from the bench in the 2-1 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion, and after making his first start in the 2-1 defeat at Preston North End, Billing lashed in a spectacular long-range strike to clinch the 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest.

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“The coach encourages me to shoot. I’d had a couple of efforts before, so it was third time lucky,” he smiled.

“I knew I had caught it well and when it started to swerve, I realised it was going in.

“I wasn’t really sure what to do, so it ended up as a knee slide towards our fans.

“Just like my first appearance against Leicester and my full debut at Reading, the first goal was a milestone moment and something I had dreamed of as a kid.

“Now I am just focusing on maintaining my development and doing everything I can to make sure I am a part of things going forward.”