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Watford winger Tom Ince thanked head coach Javi Gracia for providing a "breath of fresh air" in his career after scoring his first hat-trick for more than 10 years.
The 33-year-old is one of the most experienced players in a largely youthful squad and has made 14 of his 16 appearances this season since the Spaniard returned to the club for a second spell in charge in October.
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Ince's treble against Birmingham City on New Year's Day secured a 3-0 win to push the Hornets up to fourth in the Championship table, just three points adrift of Ipswich Town in second place.
"Whatever the manager asks of me, I try to do it to the best of my ability," Ince told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"It was nice to get my 100th (goal against Norwich) a few weeks ago and to add to that so quickly - I'll have a look at the table of the top 10 Championship goalscorers and see if I can catch a few of them before the end of the season.
"He [Gracia] understands what's required without hollering or shouting. He understands the squad he's got and that a lot of the players need his arm around them.
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"He has players with a lot of flair and talent, but if you're not compact and you don't work together and have the belief to fight for each other, he doesn't care who you are.
"For me, he's been a breath of fresh air. Just the simplicity of it, he has his game plans, but the man he is, the aura he has around the place, I can't fault it."
Watford are away to fifth-placed Hull City on Sunday.
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