The 22 year-old from Sydney was on the cusp of a major breakthrough on loan at Championship Brentford this season before being struck down by a medial ligament injury.

But, now on loan at Barnsley, Elder is aiming to finish the campaign on a high by helping the Yorkshire club upset promoted Newcastle this weekend in the final game of the season.

He's already firmly on the radar of Olyroos coach Josep Gombau, and is dreaming of a full Socceroos breakthrough in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

But, having been restricted to just 10 Championship appearances though injury, Elder will use the off-season to reboot his body with the goal of breaking into the Foxes senior squad for the 2017-2018 season.

Rated highly by both former coach Claudio Ranieri and his successor  Craig Shakespeare, Elder has been told by his club chiefs to concentrate on working to injury-proof his body rather than join an Australia Under-23s training camp this month.

"I'm off to Leicester next week to get myself strong and ready to go again next season," he said.

"It's been frustrating in many ways this season with the injuries.

"But I am chuffed to have had the two Championship loans.

"I did the medial at Brentford after playing the first six games ... and then another couple of injuries on the way back.

"But it's all been a massive learning curve for me ... I've learned a lot about myself and the level I need to get to to be competing every week."

Leicester showed its belief in Elder, who joined the club on scholarship five years ago, by tying him to a three-year deal back in August.

"I'm going to have a right go at breaking into the first team," Elder said.

"But whether it's there (or on loan again), the most important thing is to be playing and I am really positive about the future.

"I'll be working my socks off to get to where I want to be."

And that includes the green and gold.

"I unfortunately had to pull out of (development) camp last month, and Leicester want me to get back to the club to prepare for next season rather than joining the Under-23s this month," he said.

"It's disappointing because I'd love to have got involved but I can't also see Leicester's point.

"My aim is to one day be involved with the national team ... I just need to be fit and firing if and when call comes from Josep or Ange. It's a huge goal of mine."

Though yet to make a senior debut for the Foxes, Elder has been in and around the first team and, in some ways, was not surprised by its stunning Premier League title success under Ranieri. 

"The progress I have seen at the club has been crazy," he said.

"When you are working every day with those players it was not such a massive shock to see Leicester do so well last season.

"Things are run so well, it's a good group of players and on top of that you have some really talented individuals. 

"The journey the club has gone on from being on the Championship a few years  back to the quarter finals of the Champions League has been immense.

"Having experienced those big nights against Atletico Madrid and Seville, the club will be striving thst achieve again."

Mulling over the possibilities of Barnsley springing an upset at St James's Park on Monday (AEST) Elder said: "Hopefully if I am playing I can help us get a result.

"They still have a chance to win the league but we're confident we can get a result. 

"Barnsley have come a long way in the past 18 months. When I played against them while on loan at Peterborough last season they were struggling at the bottom of League One."