BOSS Scott Parker described as a player “on the upward spike” star midfielder Philip Billing but insisted: “He needs to be engaged in the game constantly.”

The Denmark international has enjoyed a stellar start to life under head coach Parker, scoring four goals during eight games in all competitions.

Copenhagen-born Billing has played 90 minutes in all but one of Cherries’ Championship games this season and netted the winner in last weekend’s 1-0 victory at Cardiff City.

Speaking after that clash, fellow midfielder Ben Pearson identified the work-rate and running stats of Billing as something to be highlighted.

Asked whether he had looked to bring that out of him as an all-round midfielder, Parker told the Daily Echo: “I’m trying to, yeah. That’s definitely an area for Phil, I’ve been constant with him since I’ve come in.

“I came across Phil the first real time when I was playing against him. I was on the bench for Fulham, he was playing for Huddersfield. I just remember looking at someone who, in every facet of the game that day he had everything – physical, technical.

“And then since I’ve been around him, it’s an area of his game that I feel like he needs to be engaged in the game constantly.

“I feel like he has tendencies to be in moments of games. And we are working very hard, he’s working very hard and that’s the most important thing.

“I can sit in front of Phil and I can give him ideas and I can try and change things, but ultimately you need someone engaged, you need someone who cares, you need someone who has got the capabilities of them working hard to try and change that and he is doing that.

“I’m seeing someone who, like Ben referenced there, you guys won’t be able to see physical numbers maybe, but be under no illusions, this is somebody who is working tirelessly in possession, out of possession and I just feel like his whole game as a midfielder is rounding quite nicely.

“The next thing for him is to maintain, be consistent in that now and that’s the next level, add some goals, be diligent out of possession, albeit at times you may not be the best at that and that’s not a best attribute, you need to take part in it and you need to be accountable.

“He definitely is doing that. So, I see someone at this present moment on the upward spike, I see someone who is developing and enhancing his game, definitely.”

Billing had been linked with a move away from Cherries in the summer, with Premier League Norwich City reportedly interested in the former Huddersfield Town man.

But with the Dane now moving through the gears under Parker, the boss believes something has clicked with the talented midfielder.

“We’re new, and when someone new comes in, it’s fresh,” said the head coach.

“The next big thing for Phil will be consistency. It will be, can you maintain?

“You often find with players and with people, initially the onset of something different, you get reward from that – scoring goals, performance. There’s a real upturn.

“After that you have to bring it from within. You have to obviously then push and be consistent in your levels and not drop off that. At this present moment in time I see nothing that suggests that Phil won’t be that.

“I see that he’s growing, I see that he’s understanding it, he gets what I’m going to want from him, he gets not just from what I want from him but what a modern-day midfielder needs to bring to a game of football really. I’m hoping that continues.”

Billing is expected to line up for Cherries when they host Luton Town in the Championship tomorrow (3pm).