Aleksandar Mitrovic insists his remarkable goalscoring season is not done yet despite netting his 40th last night to fire Fulham back to the Premier League.
Mitrovic has been in stunning form this season and the striker’s current tally is already by some distance a new Championship record, beating the mark of 31 set by Brentford’s Ivan Toney only last year.
The Serbian hit a brace as Fulham beat Preston 3-0 at Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, their third promotion to the top flight in five seasons.
Mitrovic, however, isn’t satisfied with his current haul and wants to extend his record over the final few games as Fulham look to clinch the Championship title.
There is also the possibility that the 27-year-old could yet surpass Portsmouth forward Guy Whittingham’s Premier League-era best of 42 goals in a second tier season from 1992/93, while Derek Dooley’s post-war record of 46 for Sheffield Wednesday in 1951/52 is on the horizon.
“There are still four games to play, so let’s try to make the number even higher,” said Mitrovic.
“I have had great numbers this season, a great season, but that’s with good players around me and the style we play this season.
“We create a lot of chances and score a lot of goals. It’s been an amazing season for the team and myself as well.
“It was nice [to score two more tonight], I’ve scored a lot of goals. I did my job. It’s been an amazing season on a personal level, on a team level, with these fans it has been a special season.”
Fulham players celebrated wildly at Craven Cottage last night, with fans joining in with a pitch invasion, too.
Mitrovic, however, says the squad will keep the partying to a minimum as they are determined to lift the Championship title.
With four matches to go, Fulham are nine points ahead of Bournemouth in second, but the Cherries have a game in hand and the two sides meet this weekend.
Victory in that head-to-head would all but secure the title, with only defeats for Fulham in their three subsequent games coupled with a huge goal difference swing giving Bournemouth a chance.
“Tonight we have something organised here, but nothing much because we have to play another big game on Saturday,” said Mitrovic.
“We are going to enjoy ourselves tonight but rest for Bournemouth. We want to win this league and we still have four games to go.”
