Fulham’s starman Tom Cairney has revealed that Slavisa Jokanovic has warned him that he will be a target for opposing teams.

The 26-year-old has been in fine form all season, bagging himself seven goals and nine assists so far, picking up the EFL Player of the Year award last week at the London Football Awards.

That form hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Craven Cottage faithful, and nor has it gone under the radar of opposing teams who know it’s Cairney who makes the Fulham machine tick over.

Cairney took a few late kicks in the 3-1 defeat of Preston on Saturday, but Jokanovic’s vice captain insists it doesn’t bother him, although he admitted his manager has warned him he opposing sides may try to target him.

He said: “I got a few kicks late off the ball but I don’t know, I think that’s happened all season – it has been a great week for me but I need to top it off with three points.

“The manager said it to me before a few games that I’ll be a target and to be careful but it’s part and parcel of the game, the top players get it every week and you just have to go with the flow.

“I don’t mind it, so long as I take my first touch I feel comfortable and feel like I won’t lose the ball but I have to be a bit careful of course.”

Cairney picked up the EFL gong at the London Football Awards last Thursday – the first time that the midfield maestro has been recognised in such a way, and he has revealed it was a proud moment in his career.

He added: “It was one of those nights where I haven’t had that in my career yet but it’s been an amazing season and it was such a proud moment for me and my family, my family came and I’d love to kick on from here.

“It’s nice for your performances to get recognised and it’s a long hard season – the Championship is relentless so to perform on a good level for a long time it’s nice to get rewarded for it.”