MY ACCOUNT
True to his terrace chant, Aleksandar Mitrovic has been on fire for Fulham this season — and Championship defences really have been terrified.
Racking up a record-breaking 38 goals in 39 league outings, the Serbian striker has been the catalyst for Fulham’s ferocious promotion bid which could finally be clinched with victory over Preston tonight.
But having managed only three strikes in 27 Premier League appearances for the Cottagers last term, we consider whether Mitrovic can continue his goalscoring exploits back at the highest level.
Unprecedented levels
Mitrovic’s net-busting exploits have reached levels scarcely seen before in English football’s second tier.
Since the division was rebranded as the Championship in 2003-04, only two players have reached the 30-goal mark — Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray (30) in 2012-13 and Ivan Toney (31) for Brentford last term.
Should he go on to hit 40 — as looks more than feasible — he will be the first man to do so since Guy Whittingham for Portsmouth all the way back in 1992-93.
The modern-day Championship does not exactly lend itself to such goal hauls either, with an ever-increasing standard and a brutally relentless schedule.
Add in Mitrovic’s international commitments and it has been an utterly jaw-dropping achievement.
Doubts remain
Focusing solely on this season’s statistics, it seems laughable to write off Mitrovic’s chances of ripping up the Premier League next season.
Yet his struggles under former boss Scott Parker in 2020-21, when a peripheral figure in the Cottagers’ ill-fated relegation battle, mean the Serb retains his fair share of sceptics.
However, context must be added to that frustrating campaign.
Only 13 of Mitrovic’s 27 top-flight appearances last season were starts, with seven of those coming before mid-November.
Parker, now in charge at Fulham’s title rivals Bournemouth, quickly developed a preference for a front line packed with pace which left Mitrovic used as little more than an impact sub.
As well as finding himself deployed in a system unsuited to his strengths, the target man was coming on for a team devoid of confidence in attack as Parker’s side netted only 27 times in 38 matches.
Silva lining
With Mitrovic’s future unclear last summer, new boss Marco Silva made it a priority to convince the forward to stay at Craven Cottage.
Even he could not have dreamed of the level to which he has been rewarded — though the 44-year-old has never lacked faith in the No9.
Earlier this month, he revealed: “I was clear what I expected from him, our philosophy and how he could be a key player for us this season. I was not worried about his future after that conversation.
“He wanted to be part of the project, be with me and be a part of the football club. He has been phenomenal.”
Unsurprisingly, the ex-Watford and Everton boss does not foresee another difficult Premier League season for his top scorer — especially when factoring in eight goals in his last 10 Serbia caps.
Silva added “I do not think his country play in the Championship? A good player can score at any level and he is a good player, trust me.”
Be like Toney
It is fair to observe that Championship top scorers have traditionally struggled when sticking by their promoted club for the subsequent top-flight campaign — but there have been exceptions.
Mitrovic need look no further than Toney for inspiration, with the Bees marksman already having 12 Premier League strikes to his name this term in 28 outings.
Toney, 26, topped the second tier’s scoring charts with 31 goals in 45 appearances in 2020-21 — netting at a rate of a goal every 125 minutes.
Currently bagging every 205 minutes in the top tier, the powerful forward has shown the transition to the top level to be far from impossible.
What is more, Toney has also endured two separate six-game goal droughts for the West Londoners this season.
Maintaining strong self-belief during similar lean spells is a trait Mitrovic must showcase if he does stay put next term.
Decisions ahead
Should Fulham secure promotion, their sole aim in 2022-23 is likely to be Premier League survival — and that is an important factor to consider when judging Mitrovic.
While he currently plays in a side that have netted 30 times more than their nearest rival, goals will likely be at a premium again next term.
Facing higher quality defenders are a challenge the Serb can relish but only if he plays in a side capable of carving out a reasonable number of chances for him to convert.
Teenage team-mate Fabio Carvalho has all but sealed a move to Liverpool, where the 19-year-old will be able to strut his stuff in one of world football’s most dominant attacking sides.
With a host of clubs expressing an interest in Mitrovic back in January, it should come as no surprise if the 27-year-old has options this summer.
Should he indeed jump ship to a top-half side, he can be expected to scale new heights once again.
