There is simply no stopping Aleksandar Mitrovic this season.
The Fulham centre-forward scored yet again on Wednesday night as the Cottagers beat Middlesbrough 1-0 to move ever closer to an instant Premier League return. That was goal number 38 in what has been an incredible campaign in front of goal for the Serbian and he is inching towards the small band of players who have racked up 40 goals or more in a second tier season.
Fulham chief Marco Silva has repeatedly praised his striker's performances this season and was waxing lyrical again after watching him notch at the Riverside to end Boro's eight-game winning streak at home. The Portuguese said: "(It was an) Amazing goal. He deserves everything that he's achieving so far this season. His reaction to the last season has been fantastic, the goals he scores speak for themselves and he deserves everything.
"He keeps working really hard for his team-mates and this club and that's what I want to see from him. Probably if you ask me if this game was one point for either team [a fair result] probably yes. Middlesbrough are a strong side, they have great quality and they can play with a lot of intensity as well. It was a tough game."
Mitrovic has been that potent in front of goal that he has remarkably out-scored no fewer than ten teams across the EFL.
His 38 strikes are more than the following teams have scored altogether: Carlisle United (36), Stevenage (34), Barrow (34), Hull City (33), Peterborough (33), Crewe Alexandra (32), Gillingham (31), Barnsley (29), Doncaster Rovers (28), and Scunthorpe (26).
How many goals will Mitrovic end on this season? Let us know in the comments
One of the members of that exclusive 40-goals club is Guy Whittingham who is the most recent player to achieve the feat having notched 42 for Portsmouth in 1992-93.
Speaking to the Mirror back in February, Whittingham said: "I'll be really pleased if he does do it. I think in this modern day and age, to be able to score the number of goals that he has already is frightening. Like Portsmouth did with me, Fulham are playing to his strengths. They're creating chances for him and he's taking them. I just really hope he gets promoted if he does it (breaks record), unlike us when we didn't go up."
Best scoring seasons from second-tier golden boot winners
59 – George Camsell (Middlesbrough in 1926/27)
46 – Derek Dooley (Sheffield Wednesday in 1951/52)
45 – Jimmy Hampson (Blackpool in 1929/30)
44 – Arthur Rowley ( Leicester City in 1956/57)
43 – Tommy Johnston (Leyton Orient and Blackburn Rovers in 1957/58)
42 – Pat Glover (Grimsby Town in 1933/34), John Charles (1953/54), Brian Clough (Middlesbrough in 1958/59), Guy Whittingham (Portsmouth in 1992/93)
40 – Jimmy Hampson (Blackpool in 1928/29)
