"You see in the papers and from talking to mates that other teams have been back (in training) and I've been taking the mick a bit," Lawrence told Sky Sports News.

"But we are back today and it has been hard work.

"He (Pulis) is working us hard. He said this season is going to be harder than last because we are in a bigger and better league so you have to work twice as hard."

And Lawrence is keen to avoid relegation after suffering the drop with former club Sunderland in 2006.

"When we went down with Sunderland it was the toughest thing in my life," said Lawrence.

"I'm glad to be back in the Premier League with Sunderland and we are going to give it everything."