‘Manful’ Pogrebnyak raring to go

Pavel Pogrebnyak says he’s not fazed by the prospect of playing in the Premier League and is looking forward to making his Fulham debut.

Fulham are still awaiting international clearance for the Russian striker, with Martin Jol unsure whether Pogrebnyak will be available for Saturday’s home game against Stoke City. The 28 year-old struggled to recapture his fine form that helped Zenit St. Petersburg to their UEFA Cup triumph with Stuttgart, scoring just 15 goals in 86 appearances for the Bundesliga side. Martin Jol admits that Pogrebnyak has a point to prove, but the striker is ready for the challenge.

Pogrebnyak told Sport-Express:

It will also be difficult for me but I’m not afraid. I have to build into a new team and learn a new type of football. I have to be collected but my mood is manful.

When the coach [Jol] worked in Hamburg, I remember that he wanted me to sign for his team. I’ve talked to him on the phone recently and he told me where he’d like me to play on the pitch.

I watched Fulham on the television and it’s true that it’s a team that likes creative football and it has some really experienced players. It’ll be interesting for me to play there.

Up front there is Johnson, Ruiz and Dembele, and the top goalscorer is Dempsey from the US. In midfield there are two seasoned players Murphy and Duff.