Fulham take on promotion-chasing Middlesbrough today buoyed by Ross McCormack signing a contract extension this week.
The striker has been the Cottagers stand-out performer this year, scoring 18 goals, and penned a deal yesterday keeping him at the club until 2020.
The news will no doubt lift Fulham ahead of a tough match against a Middlesbrough side battling for a promotion spot.
After a tricky start to Slavisa Jokanovic’s reign, picking up just the one win in his first seven games, they’ve turned their fortunes around to clamber away from the relegation zone.
A brace from Tom Cairney either side of a Michael Madl goal gave them a 3-0 win over Charlton last weekend followed by a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on Tuesday.
Recent results at home against the north east club also suggest an upset, with Fulham winning four of the last five matches against Middlesbrough at The Cottage.
Jokanovic said: “Middlesbrough is a tough opponent but I believe we have everything we need to win the game.
“I am always optimistic. I always think we can take the next step and this is the next chance.”
McCormack’s future was up in the air over the January transfer window but now the Fulham manager wants to concentrate on making the striker their main man.
“We want to build the team around him. He scored many goals and it’s a great step for us and for him too,” he added.
In the reverse fixture at the Riverside Stadium earlier in the season the two sides cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw.
Defender Fernando Amorebieta will miss the game through suspension but George Friend is expected to return to the squad after a shoulder injury.
