Aleksandar Mitrovic isn’t worried about what the critics might say about him – and the Serbian striker is well on his way to proving he belongs among the English elite after scoring three goals as many games.

Fulham’s talimsanic number nine had been frustrated by David Raya throughout a see-saw west London derby and his frustration was rising after Brentford’s goalkeeper pulled off a pair of superb saves and the visitors roared back from 2-0 down to level proceedings at Craven Cottage. But, as he has so often during his time at Craven Cottage, Mitrovic came up with a moment of magic when it mattered most.

The centre forward is quoted in this morning’s Daily Mail as saying:

“I don’t care about critics. I always knew I belonged here. I feel good, I’m enjoying the moment, enjoying the Premier League, helping the team and working hard every day. Critics are always going to have different opinions but I don’t care about it.”

Mitrovic was even able to share a joke with Tom Cairney, whose windscreen he smashed with an errant shot at Motspur Park earlier this week, after the skipper stepped off the bench to help tilt an end-to-end encounter in Fulham’s favour.

“I need to talk to him!’ I broke it but it was not on purpose. It was nothing big… but he was OK. His car is behind the goal at finishing practice!’