Massimo Luongo knows he must produce the goods defensively if he wants to stay in the QPR team, even if it hampers his more natural attacking instincts.
The Australian likes to rampage forward and create chances for the strikers but will do the dirty work as well, which pleases Hasselbaink.
Having been in and out of the side in his early days after joining from Swindon last summer, the midfielder has become one of the first names on the team-sheet.
Luongo said: “First and foremost, I've got to be a little dog in there. That's how I got into the team last year.
“It's probably not my strongest side of the game but I'm happy to do it for him. If he says that's what he needs from you then you've got to do it as he's got other midfielders who can do that job.
“At the moment, I've got to find a balance from being creative and doing that. I've got one mindset in being strong defensively.
“It's hard as if it pays off then I've got confidence to go and play but if it doesn't so I've got to get myself out of that little hole.”
After a difficult first year, Luongo is playing with the confidence of knowing how prominently he features in the management's plans.
He added: “Last year was hard for me. I wasn't established in this team. I was just playing where the manager wanted me, especially at the beginning of the season.
“It's nice to be an established player here so I look forward to the weekends knowing I'm going to be involved and then the confidence comes.”
