Goalscoring hero Ola Aina has called on his Fulham team-mates to ‘kick on’ from what he described as a ‘massive’ win over West Brom last night and move up the Premier League table.

The on-loan Torino full back struck his first top flight goal, a sensational strike from 20 yards, to double Fulham’s lead against the Baggies and secure a first league victory of the season for Scott Parker’s side. The win saw the Whites leapfrog their fellow strugglers into seventeenth in the table and Aina told the Evening Standard afterwards just how precious those three points felt:

“It was massive. Everyone knows it has been a tough start to the season and to get the three points and the clean sheet, those things are very important. We dug in and really showed some resilience, it is an amazing feeling. It is a long season, the team and myself have to take every game as it comes. You have to work hard at that, keep training and putting in the effort. What we did last night, that needs to be the minimum. Hopefully, we can kick on from here and keep improving.”

The versatile defender heaped praise on manager Scott Parker for keeping his side focused during a tough few weeks at the start of their Premier League return.

He has been great, keeping the belief within the camp and he always tells us that he believes in each and everyone of us, believes in our ability and what we can achieve. He has been very positive with us — where we lack, he lets us know, and where we do well, he lets us know. He is a very truthful guy and he has been great.

Aina was delighted to get on a scoresheet and hopes to be able to establish himself in the top flight, having moved to Italy after failing to make the breakthrough with Chelsea.

It is always special getting your first Premier League goal. It has been a long time since I made my league debut. I am just glad that the goal came and I was able to help the team with it. It is a dream to play in the Premier League and score, and get games in the Premier League. When I left Chelsea, it was kick-starting a career for myself. I always wanted to come back and play in the Premier League. I am just happy that I am making it a reality.