The former Jets striker admits his first season in the red and white was “frustrating”. He only started three times, making 12 appearances in total.

And when he got on the park, the pressure to perform invariably got to him, he admitted.

“There are 100,000 thoughts that can go through my head, but it really just comes from the love of football," he told au.fourfourtwo.com. 

“I’ve always loved football since I was five when I first started playing but sometimes it can get the better of me and I’ve got to learn to relax.”

Relax he has in the off-season - and it’s working for the 22-year-old.

Five goals for the Olyroos over two legs against Yemen was the boost he needed and proof that taking the pressure off worked for him.

That was followed by a hat-trick in a recent friendly for Heart, which is all further evidence of a new Hoffman emerging - and he’s even bulked up.

“The biggest thing for me at the moment is that I’ve taken a lot of confidence away from the Olyroos. Getting the call ups and scoring those goals,” he said.

“Obviously the big thing for me is being nice and relaxed on match day. Saying to myself, ‘I’m going to have some fun’ rather than putting pressure on myself to perform. 

“I found out that worked for me in the Olympics Games qualifiers [against Yemen] - just to be more relaxed more than pumped up... It seems to be working.”

His club coach John van’t Schip is taking a wait-and-see approach, though he likes what he sees so far this pre-season.

“He’s looking good, he’s looking sharp. He’s very fit but we’re not there yet. We still have to play games, that’s the most important thing for Jason,” the Dutch mentor told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Hopefully he can make that step. He’s older, he’s learned from last year… He could be a player we can really count on. And I think Jason is making those steps.

“I’m not worried about it. He’s still young but that’s his biggest thing, to transform that to game play in the important games and also in the Olyroos in the big games, these are the games that people get judged.”

The Olyroos play their next qualifier on Wednesday September 21 at home to UAE. And a few weeks later, the A-League kicks-off. These are a pivotal couple of months for the former Jets striker.

Hoffman added: “If I can stay on top of all my emotions I’m sure I’ll be fine. A lot of people who know see me as a chilled out guy from the beach town of Newcastle.

“It can be quite confusing to some people, I guess.”