The Australian international was a key part of the side which worked incredibly hard to return from Sunderland with all three points last Sunday.

And the 30-year-old, one of Town’s most-experienced Championship players, said it’s vital that he and others ‘work their nuts off’ during games

“It’s tough,” he said of the workrate and effort required in the second tier. “I’ve probably had most of my career being in that team that has to dig in deep and graft for that away win.

“They don’t come easily so it feels good. It’s a challenge, and when the boys see me and Sammy (Morsy) in midfield doing it, Chappers and Broady working their nuts off and making tackles, then everyone gets behind it.

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“The minute one of us is passive – the experienced lads – then it has a ripple effect. We need to make sure we’re on it. I think we drive the standards.”

Indeed, much of Town’s second tier experience can be found in their engine room, with Luongo, Morsy, Lee Evans, Dominic Ball and Jack Taylor combining for hundreds of starts in the Championship.

It’s also one of the most-stacked areas of the side, with competition fierce to earn a place in the starting XI among the quintet of midfield warriors.

But Luongo, who has formed an impressive starting partnership with skipper Morsy, says he just wants to help the team – whether he’s playing or not.

“I’m at that age now where I understand that I’m not going to play 46 games in the season and every game is different,” he explained.

“I trust the manager to pick who’s going to play and who’s more suited to that specific game.

“Maybe when I was younger I’d be trying to outdo the other midfielders, but I’m old enough now to help and, if I’m not playing, give my insight to others.

“When I signed my deal (in the summer) I didn’t think I was going to play every game. I knew they were going to bring in a midfielder.

“I was up for the challenge and, when I’m called upon – as I did last year – I’ll try to be as ready as I can.”