The 24-year-old felt he did not get the treatment he deserved at

Anthony Knockaert could be forgiven for feeling like a man who binned the winning ticket. But with 200million reasons to be distracted this week, he has felt no regrets about his decision to reject a new contract at Leicester last summer.

That was then, when his complex relationship with Nigel Pearson meant a departure seemed the best choice. This is now, when he stands presented with a wonderful opportunity at Brighton.

He is the big man of the weekend's big game, with Brighton playing Middlesbrough on Saturday and the winner in line for the £200m fortune that comes with promotion to the Premier League.

Anthony Knockaert rejected a new contract offer from Leicester last summer before moving to Standard Liege

The midfielder says there is no jealousy on his part after seeing his former club win the Premier League

Arriving at this critical juncture, Knockaert is a playmaker driven by tragedy and travelling at great speed, having contributed four goals and three assists in his past six games. He also walked off with the Sky Bet player of the month award this week and the wider consensus has him as one of the finest talents outside the Premier League.

The only bump in his brilliant recent charge might have been the inevitable moments of reflection as something remarkable happened to his former team-mates.

'I spoke to Riyad Mahrez this week on the phone and I talk a lot with Steve Walsh, the scout,' Knockaert told Sportsmail. 'I have great friends there. I am delighted for Riyad, for that unbelievable club, for everyone there, players like Andy King who came through the whole way with the club from League One. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. No jealousy.'

And yet Knockaert, 24, can be forgiven for feeling he 'deserved' a happier ending at Leicester. He spent three eventful seasons at the club and left a major footprint. In his first campaign, 2012-13, he was named their young player of the year but suffered famously when his last-minute penalty in the play-off semi-final against Watford was saved. Watford immediately went up the other end and scored the winner.

Knockaert returned to England with Brighton in January and has another shot at playing in the top flight

The 24-year-old French midfielder was outstanding as Leicester won the Championship 2013-14

The following campaign, he was one of Leicester's leading players as they won the Championship. But last season, during the great escape from relegation, it went off the rails. Pearson, who had signed Knockaert from Guingamp in 2012, evidently didn't fancy him for the Premier League, fielding him only nine times and not once after January.

'I loved it there but I didn't deserve to be treated how I was last season in terms of playing games,' Knockaert said. 'I thought I deserved better. That is why I wanted to leave.

'I had a very good relationship with the manager but it was hard last season. I think I was better than what I had. What I showed in Championship the year before should have meant more games to me last year.

'I thought I had the quality to play. But he (Pearson) didn't give me three games or four games (in a row) to show what I can show. Sometimes 15 minutes in a game, sometimes 10 minutes. But this is football.'

Knockaert suffered play-off heartache after missing a penalty in the 2013 semi-final defeat by Watford

Knockaert was offered a four-year contract to stay last summer but instead opted to join Standard Liege on a Bosman free transfer.

He added: 'At my age it is important to be playing. To be honest, I thought it would still be him (Pearson) this season and I thought he wouldn't give me my chance again.'

After an impressive first half of the season in Belgium, Brighton signed Knockaert in January. The challenge is to help one of the most impressive clubs outside the top flight take their next step. Knockaert has been at this point twice before.

'In 2013, the play-off against Watford, the last minute was a nightmare for me,' he said. 'You can miss a penalty, that happens, but they scored just a second later. That is what hurt me. After a week I was already thinking about the next season.'

Knockaert (centre) was named Sky Bet player of the month award after a string of fine performances

He soared back up a year later, fell out of favour in 2014-15, and now is on a mission again, propelled by the memory of his late elder brother, Steve, who died seven years ago.

'I heard just after the first professional game in my life (for Guingamp),' Knockaert said. 'My father said I have to come back because my brother had a heart-attack in his sleep.

'Now I try to do everything for my brother, to make him proud. When I had the promotion for Leicester to the Premier League I was happy for him. He is my motivation every day. Now I want to go to the Premier League again.'

He is one game away.