Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth has rewarded Max Muller with a new contract which will keep the defender at Adams Park until June 2018.

The 22-year-old signed a short-term deal in the summer after catching the manager’s eye during pre-season, and was given the chance to build his fitness with the club during his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Muller has impressed during the Checkatrade Trophy triumphs at Millwall and Blackpool and Ainsworth is keen to help the German continue his progress over the next 18 months at least.

He said: “Max has worked extremely hard to get to this stage where he’s ready to get more minutes under his belt and really challenge for a place in the team.

“I have to give huge credit to Dave Wates and Cian O’Doherty in our medical department for getting Max back to fitness and I’m confident that he can now go from strength to strength and become an important player for us.

“I know it caught a few fans by surprise when we signed him in the summer because he came into the club completely unknown to most people, but we scouted him closely and knew he was someone with real potential.”

Muller arrived at Adams Park having previously played for SV Sandhausen in Germany and Salzburg in Austria, making his first appearance for the Chairboys in France in pre-season, before being handed his debut at Millwall in December.

He was given his first full 90 minutes at Blackpool on Tuesday night, forming a solid partnership with Will De Havilland to help the Chairboys reach the quarter-finals.