Tim Ream wants to ‘wrap up promotion’ as soon as possible with Fulham now just two wins away from the Premier League.

The veteran American defender told journalists earlier this week that going up via the play-offs at Wembley was a memorable experience, but that he much prefers the certainty of automatic promotion. Ream insisted that Fulham were still taking every game as it comes – the mantra laid out by head coach Marco Silva.

“We’re looking to wrap up promotion and that top spot as quickly as we can and that’s why we have been taking it one game at a time and not looking forward to when we can celebrate or tick that box off.

That’s been the goal all year, from day one. I think that now it’s fully within our grasp, you see what the last two games – QPR and Middlesbrough- what it’s taken, guys putting it in from Mitro all the way back and from Marek all the way to the front. That’s been our number one goal from the first day that the manager came in.”

The 34 year-old centre back will bring up 250 first-team appearances for Fulham against Coventry City at Craven Cottage. The milestone seems particularly special to him.

“It’s a pretty big number. A lot of games played for one club. Something I’m really proud of, it’s taken a lot of work, a lot of years, but it’s definitely a pretty big milestone.”