Massimo Luongo's defensive commitment has convinced Queens Park Rangers manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink that the Socceroos midfielder deserves a starting role.
Luongo hasn't missed a minute in QPR's past three Championship fixtures as the London-based club have stretched their unbeaten run to four matches.
The Australian made just one appearance in Hasselbaink's first seven league games in charge, coming off the bench for five minutes against Hull City on New Year's Day.
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The Dutch manager, who became QPR's boss in December, has conceded he wasn't entirely convinced by Luongo when he arrived at Loftus Road.
But he has become a convert of the Socceroos' Asian Cup hero, who has generally played in a deeper role under Hasselbaink.
"Massimo has given us something different. He's very calm on the ball, very easy on the eye," the 43-year-old former Chelsea striker told westlondonsport.com.
"Also he's done the other side of the game. That was my worry, but he has proven to us that he can do that.
"Now he has to do that for the rest of the season.
"You need that four in the centre of the park – the two central defenders and the midfielders – to be a unit."
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The relationship seems to be blossoming on both sides, with Luongo having hailed Hasselbaink's influence on his overall game.
"I am very happy," Luongo told QPR's website this week.
"The manager has asked for a different side of me to come out in games and I have worked to do that in training while I wasn't getting in the team.
"A little bit of luck got me in the side, and I am really happy to be back in."
Luongo has played 17 league matches for QPR since joining from League One club Swindon Town before the 2015-16 campaign.
