JACK BALDWIN believes his League One experience will be invaluable to Sunderland this season.

The 25-year old centre-half made his first Black Cats start in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Luton, earning praise from manager Jack Ross.

Baldwin has been a stalwart in the third tier of English football, only playing once outside League One in his eight-year career.

That was for half a season after Hartlepool United were relegated to League Two in 2013, before joining Peterborough in January 2014.

Now the defender feels his knowledge will help his new club deal with some tricky games – starting with the fixture at Kenilworth Road.

“I think it was a standard League One debut, as they go. I was saying to a few staff in there I think knowing the league got me through today a bit,” he said.

“It’s a physical league and that’s what we’ve got to expect going into games week in, week out.

“This was probably one of the best games for our squad, some of the lads probably have no experience what this level is about, especially with Luton having momentum from last season. It was their first home game, and they were always going to get behind them.”

Sunderland will get more reminders of the toughness of League One this month, with trips to Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon looming.

Baldwin was sure that although there would be pragmatism at times, his new side would stick to their passing game as much as possible, with goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin as likely to throw the ball out as punt it.

“The gaffer is building a belief at the club where we are going to play football in the right way, but we’re not going to kill ourselves,” he added.

“It’s whatever is going to get us results. Teams might come up against us and we don’t want to play suicide football, but if Jon comes and catches a cross we’re out to play out as fast as we can.

“We will get the wide men on the ball, and get the players who are dangerous going forward on the ball, that’s where we’re going to get our joy.

“Being at Sunderland we like to play football the right way, and get it down where we can, but at times as you can see if there’s any doubt there won’t be any fussing about with it at the back.”

Baldwin teamed up with Glenn Loovens at the back for the first time, with only the goal by Matty Pearson putting a blot in the copybook.

“He’s brilliant to play alongside, he’s sometimes a bit too calm for me but he’s got the leadership and knowledge of the game, and that will seep out to me. I’m not young any more, but I’m younger than him and I’m still learning the game,” he said.