BILLY KING will celebrate a Championship triumph and spend the summer preparing himself for a crack at the Premiership for the second time in twelve months.

Like last season, it will be in the maroon of Hearts he will be taking to the field in the top flight, though.

The winger will look to fire Rangers to the second tier title when Mark Warburton’s side face Raith Rovers this afternoon. Victory in Kirkcaldy, coupled with a Hibernian stumble at St Mirren, will see the Gers complete their journey back through the leagues.

But King is unlikely to be part of Warburton’s squad when they begin their Premiership campaign as Jambos boss Robbie Neilson looks to reap the rewards of his time at Ibrox.

The 21-year-old has impressed for the Gers since making the switch from Tynecastle but, as it stands, he is set to head back along the M8 and get another chance to impress.

King said: "As far as I knew I was going back, but I've not actually spoken to Robbie Neilson yet. I think all that will be sorted out at the end of the season.

“Right now I'm just concentrating on Rangers and getting to the end of the season and trying to win the league. So I'm not really thinking about too far into the future.

“At the end of the season I'll sit down and speak with Robbie to see what's happening. But a lot can happen in the summer - it depends what style of play he wants to play, who's coming in, who's going out...so we'll see what happens.

“In the first half of this season at Hearts, I was mostly on the bench and coming on. I think I deserve more of a chance.

“Next season, I don’t want it to be the same as this season. I want to play more games.

“We will see what happens in pre-season and find out where I stand. I’ll have a chat with Robbie.”

When King does return to Tynecastle in a few weeks’ time, he will do so with another Championship medal and the benefit of a handful of games and crucial match time under his belt.

The forward was frustrated with his lack of action during the first half of the campaign as Neilson’s side made an impressive return to the top flight.

He would be a useful addition to Warburton’s squad for next term but there is no deal in place that would see him become a Gers player on a permanent basis.

King said: "Every day is a learning day. I'm still young and I think I am still improving every day.

“I take advice from the older players and the managers. I speak to Kenny Miller and he always gives you advice and where I should be positionally.

“He's had a really good career playing for a lot of clubs at a high level, so it's good to listen to him. Lee Wallace too. You listen to what they have to say.

“Nothing has been said [to Mark Warburton] yet. I’m just taking it day by day, concentrating on doing my best for Rangers until the end of the season.

“My main aim was to help Rangers win the league and it’s looking more likely now.

“I’m not looking too far ahead. When the times comes, I will have that conversation.”

Before King can focus on his own future, he has plenty to look forward to at Ibrox in the coming weeks as Rangers close in on the title and set their sights on Petrofac Training Cup and Scottish Cup silverware.

The forward was part of the Jambos squad that stormed to the Championship crown last term and clinched their top flight return at the first attempt.

And King is relishing the chance to claim a consecutive league medals as Warburton’s side look to get over the line this afternoon or against Dumbarton on Tuesday evening.

He said: “It would be brilliant. I remember winning it last season with Hearts was a great achievement, with both Rangers and Hibs also in the division. It would be brilliant this season as well to do it with Rangers.

“I’ve not played as big a part as I did last season, but it’s still a good achievement.

“We won the title with Hearts at about the same time as this last year. I remember a few of the boys were called up for the Scotland Under-21s and couldn’t go out to celebrate.

“But I got a late call-up from Scotland, so I was able to go out and then join the squad! I got the best of both worlds.

“Personally, I’m not too bothered when we clinch the title, just as long as we win it. It was the same last season.

“I remember all the Hearts boys were watching the Hibs-Rangers game on TV, when Lee Wallace scored the goal which sealed it for us, and we were all going mental. That was good.

“It would be really good to win it at Ibrox on Tuesday night, that would be special. But first and foremost we need to concentrate on Raith.

“We would expect Hibs to win on Saturday. If that happens, we will need to take it on to Tuesday.”