Ahmed Elmohamady is warning Queens Park Rangers they will face a Hull City side ready to hit top gear when the Premier League season begins next weekend.
The Tigers are seven days away from kicking-off their league season against Harry Redknapp's newly-promoted side at Loftus Road but already have two competitive fixtures under their belt in the Europa League.
A 0-0 draw away to Slovakian outfit AS Trencin in the first leg of the third round qualifier was followed up by a 2-1 win when the teams met again at the KC Stadium on Thursday, a result that booked City a play-off round date with Belgian side Lokeren later this month.
Steve Bruce's men are back on their travels again tomorrow with a friendly away to VfB Stuttgart but Elmohamady believes the demanding schedule that comes with the Europa League ensures they will hit the ground running in an opening month of the Premier League.
"Now we are looking forward to the Premier League and our first game at QPR," said Elmohamady, who started both of City's Europa League ties with Trencin.
"The start is almost here and everyone is very excited. Europe is great but our next match is the Premier League so that is what matters.
"I do believe that these two games in Europe will help us. Match fitness is a big thing. We are still in our pre-season. That only really finishes next week when we go to QPR.
"But games against tough teams in Europe are fantastic for us. A great experience for all the players. And the fans, they were class (on Thursday night).
"I said in Slovakia last week that we needed the fans to fill the stadium. And that is what they did. Absolutely fantastic."
The Europa League has already brought a historic night to the KC Stadium this season and Elmohamady was a central figure in the drama as Trencin were finally put to the sword.
Cancelling out Tomas Malec's second-minute opener with a powerful downward header, the Egyptian winger took the honour of notching City's first goal in European football midway through the first half.
It still required Sone Aluko's late winner to avoid City exiting on the away goals rule. The forward capitalised on good work from Elmohamady and Robert Snodgrass to finish smartly from 10 yards out.
The late drama capped an absorbing evening at the KC Stadium and Elmohamady said: "Job done, which is what it was all about. We had to get through to the next round and we did that.
"It was a tough game. Europe always brings difficult games against difficult teams and this was definitely one of those. Teams have different mentalities, with many starting from the back. They like the Tiki-taka.
"But I felt our class showed, in the end. The lads worked hard to get a result. I was really happy to score the first goal, especially as it was Hull City's first goal in Europe.
"A header, too. The cross was great by Robbie Brady and that made all the difference. Having Robbie back was a big thing for us. We like having him in the team. He is a good player."
City's reward is a trip to face Belgium Cup winners Lokeren. A two-legged tie was confirmed in yesterday's draw at the UEFA headquarters in Switzerland, with the away leg first up on August 21 and the return date pencilled in for seven days later.
Manager Steve Bruce accepted that improvements must be made if City are to advance to the group stages later this month but credited the character of his side with the win.
Elmohamady pointed to similar traits. He was part of a City side that came close to fluffing their lines in a FA Cup semi-final with Sheffield United they were expected to win comfortably, only to require a second-half fightback to secure a return to Wembley and this European adventure.
"I thought our performance (against Trencin) was professional. We showed our experience. No-one panicked," he said.
"Our experience from last year helped. Look at the FA Cup semi-final and how we coped with going 1-0 down and then 2-1 down. We showed a lot of maturity.
"Then there was the FA Cup final. It was all great experience and it has given us a different mentality.
"When you are 1-0 down – and this time with an away goal against us – we showed our strengths. This is a good group and we have some fantastic players.
"Those with the experience just told us to keep going. We missed four or five chances in the first half and the result could have been very different.
"But we kept going and got our reward at the end."
