Fulham are back in the Premier League at the first time of asking after a prolific season by Aleksandar Mitrovic fired Marco Silva’s men out of the Championship with a title in reach.
The Cottagers have yo-yoed between the top-flight and second-tier over recent years, so will hope to re-establish their presence now. They spent 13-straight seasons in the Premier League before relegation in 2013/14, and bounced back and forth since the 2018/19 term.
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Fulham sealed their top-flight returns in 2018 and in 2020 via the play-offs after ending the Championship seasons in third and fourth-place. But they sit first this season with a nine-point advantage to Bournemouth with six games to play and promotion already in the bag.
Mitrovic has been vital to Silva’s efforts to secure Fulham a Premier League berth with the Serbian the Championship’s top-scorer. He has hit a massive 40 goals in 40 appearances, but he has never been as prolific in the top-flight with a career 64 goals across 182 games.
So, how did Silva’s most-used men from each position fair in their respective last seasons in a top-flight, now that Fulham are guaranteed to play Premier League football next term.
GK – Marek Rodak
Marek Rodak has featured in 30 of Fulham’s fixtures as they sealed automatic promotion from the Championship. The 25-year-old has also kept 13 clean sheets to 24 goals allowed to date. But he only played twice and conceded five goals during 2020/21 in the top-flight.
The Slovakian shot-stopper started the Cottagers’ opening match of the Premier League term in defeat at home to Arsenal. He then had to wait until a final day defeat at home to Newcastle to feature again. And former loanee Alphonse Areola could again take his place.
RB – Neco Williams
Silva started Denis Odoi in 17 of his 18 appearances during the Championship season. He has also scored once and assisted four goals as the Portuguese coach’s most often utilised right-back so far, ahead of Neco Williams (13 starts in 13) and Kenny Tete (12 starts in 16).
Yet the Cottagers sold Odoi to Club Brugge during January before loaning Williams in from Liverpool. The 21-year-old has now matched his career top record of 13 Premier League appearances, with a single-season high of six achieved in 2019/20 and again in 2020/21.
CB – Tim Ream
Tim Ream has been a rock of Fulham’s defence so far this term with 42 appearances, a goal and two assists. He has also only been cautioned on five occasions, having stepped up off the bench from last season. The American only played seven league games in 2020/21.
CB – Tosin Adarabioyo
Tosin Adarabioyo was a key part of the Fulham defence that suffered relegation in ‘20/21, unlike Ream. The 24-year-old joined from Manchester City ahead of the term for £8m and made 33 appearances. His form even drew transfer interest from Arsenal, per The Athletic.
Newcastle considered raiding west London for the centre-half this January, as well, per The Times. Adarabioyo had maintained top-flight interest with his form over 38 Championship appearances, and will now have another shot with Fulham after remaining with the club.
LB – Antonee Robinson
Antonee Robinson joined Fulham alongside Adarabioyo ahead of the 2020/21 season. The American full-back also featured in 28 Premier League games, but failed to create or score any goals. He has laid on four assists and scored twice in 33 second-tier games this term.
CM – Harrison Reed
Harrison Reed started the current campaign on the sidelines but overcome his injury to be a key part of Silva’s plans. The midfielder has featured in 35 of Fulham’s second-tier games and started 29 – eclipsing his 26 starts over 31 outings as part of the Cottagers’ relegation.
CM – Jean Michael Seri
Jean Michael Seri spent the second half of last season away from Craven Cottage on loan with Bordeaux after failing to feature for Fulham. The Ivorian remained outside of their Premier League squad in all 20 possible sides and would only feature 12 times in Ligue 1.
RW – Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson’s creativity has played a key role in Fulham securing another instant return to the Premier League. The £12m summer signing from Liverpool has scored 10 and assisted 16 goals over his 38 appearances. But he must now prove his worth in the top-flight, too.
The Welshman returned to the Championship on loan with Cardiff last term after a year in the top-flight with Bournemouth. He struck seven goals but no assists in 31 Premier League games for the Cherries in 2019/20. Yet only started 20 matches and scored once in 2020.
CAM – Fabio Carvalho
An injury limited Fabio Carvalho’s availability early in the current campaign, but the 19-year-old has flourished under Silva since. He has nine goals and seven assists in 32 games, starting 29. The Portuguese had only played four league fixtures previously in his career.
Scott Parker afforded the teenager his top-flight bow in May 2021 and he started Fulham’s final three fixtures, as well. Now, he could add to that record next term, but with Liverpool as Fabrizio Romano reports he will join the Reds for £5m plus £2.5m in future add-ons.
LW – Neeskens Kebano
Neeskens Kebano produced a lively campaign up until February with eight goals and five assists. He has since only managed to add one in either tally, despite playing 37 games so far this season. The 30-year-old has also started 29 of his appearances in the second-tier.
He had an early look at life in the Championship last season after joining Middlesbrough on loan in January. Parker cut the DR Congo international in the winter market as he had only played five Premier League matches for a total of 116 minutes without scoring or assisting.
ST – Aleksandar Mitrovic
Mitrovic has been the man of the moment for Fulham this season with an astounding 40 goals and seven assists over 40 games to seal their promotion from the Championship to Premier League, with the title possibly theirs for the taking at Bournemouth on Saturday.
But Silva will hope his incredible campaign is replicated somewhat next season as the Serb has struggled in the top-flight before. He scored just three and assisted three goals over 27 games last term under Parker, while also only starting 13 of his league appearances, too.
The striker’s output also failed to prevent the Cottagers falling back into the second-tier in 2018/19. Mitrovic amassed 11 goals in 37 that season after starting in each of his matches.
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