“Even though he knows I’m after his spot, he’s prepared to give me all the help he can to make me a better player.

“In fact, during the time he’s been out of the side, he’s come in at half-time and given me advice on what I can do to guarantee I can do even more for the team in the second half. I couldn’t really ask any more of him than that.”

Yet even though Hodgson has done so much to improve Cudjoe’s game, the Huddersfield-born back is not prepared to wait forever to wrestle the No1 shirt off the Australian’s back.

“I’m still relatively new to this level, so I never really expected to match what Brett can do,” he added.

“But next year I intend to be an even bigger threat to his spot, and he knows that!

“And I think it helps him, too. I’m sure that if I can be breathing down Brett’s neck it’ll help him perform at his best, and if that’s the case that’s great for the team.

“At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”