Lauding Fulham’s goalkeeper after a gutting loss at Bournemouth might strike some as strange timing, but Bernd Leno deserves some praise. Not only was the German international one of the bargains of the summer – a reminder that Fulham stole him from Arsenal for a mere £3m – but he has played a pivotal part in ensuring that the defeat at Dean Court on Saturday wasn’t too damaging. Marco Silva’s men had amassed 39 points by the middle of March, which is astonishing when you consider that Fulham have spent their last three top flight seasons down amongst the deadmen, meaning that they are mercifully free of this season’s desperately dramatic relegation dogfight.

Great goalkeepers make a massive difference to any team. We have seen this in recent seasons at the Cottage, even if the excellence of Alphonse Areola wasn’t enough to keep Scott Parker’s overly-defensive side afloat. Each iteration of a strong Fulham side among the English elite has had an outstanding number one. Jean Tigana shocked the footballing world by exploiting Edwin van der Sar’s demotion at Juventus and the Whites were able to establish themselves as a Premiership outfit. Roy Hodgson followed the Great Escape by signing Mark Schwarzer from Middlesbrough on a free transfer and the club’s highest ever finish and a European final followed. Leno still has some way to go to match those two titans – but he has made a superb start.

Leno had to wait for his chance to impress at Craven Cottage – and Marek Rodak might justifiably think himself unfortunate to have lost his place after keeping a clean sheet at Wolves on the hottest day of the season back in August. But nobody can question the soundness of Silva’s decision to switch his keepers. The experienced custodian has made more than a century of saves in the Premier League this season and his consistency has been crucial in ensuring that Fulham’s adherence to an adventurous style of play, even in their own defensive third, has not been more costly. The capture of Joao Palhinha has been belatedly hailed by the pundits as they have awoken to the Portuguese midfielder’s magnificence, but Leno’s arrival was just as vital to Fulham’s fortunes.

Leno’s distribution also aids Silva’s penchant for pretty possession as he is far more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Rodak. That is a pre-requisite for the modern goalkeeper, but the former Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen number one has chiefly proven his worth with a series of superb saves. No Premier League goalkeeper has made more saves in his own penalty area that Leno, who took this number to an extraordinary 78 from 26 appearances on the south coast on Saturday. Such stellar form has clearly caught the eye of eager observers in his homeland as Fulham’s first choice keeper was recalled to the Germany set-up for the first time in three years by Hansi Flick last month.

He is also clearly a leader in the dressing room. Vocal both on the field and off it, Leno’s character made him a popular member of the Arsenal squad, even if he eventually had to move across the capital in order to get first-team football having been usurped by Aaron Ramsdale at the Emirates. He is a winner – as evidenced by his disagreement with Aleskandar Mitrovic in the aftermath of a frustrating draw with Everton back in the autumn – and that experience and intelligence has been a massive benefit for a Fulham squad that has been bereft of that knowhow in previous campaigns. We hope there’s much more to come from Craven Cottage’s own BFG.