Tom Cairney’s recent goal glut for Fulham is the result of his team-mates begging him to shoot more, according to the team’s scoring expert Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The captain has netted four goals in his last three matches having previously scored just the once this season, with highlights including 25-yard top corner finishes in the recent wins over Wigan and Reading.
His goals have helped Scott Parker’s promotion hopefuls up to fifth in the Championship table ahead of their London derby at home to Charlton Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.
‘He has started scoring again this season and that is good for him and the team,’ Mitrovic said. ‘He is a great player and scorer.
‘He knows that he has the ability to come up with goals for the team, with his shooting from distance or running into the area. And he created a lot as well.
We told him all the time in training that we know the goals will come for him, because he has that ability, especially from long range.
‘Last season maybe his confidence dropped a bit and he stopped trying to shoot.
‘But we kept telling him and kept pushing him, and now he is back and we are seeing the goals he is scoring – four in the last three games.
‘So that is amazing and really contributes towards what the team is trying to achieve.’
Cairney, 28, managed just the one goal last season as Fulham’s return to the Premier League proved short-lived.
And it’s no coincidence that Cairney has returned to goalscoring form just as Fulham have shaken off their early season inconsistency with back-to-back wins – 2-0 at home to Wigan and 4-1 at Reading.
