Aleksandar Mitrovic follows Guy Whittingham in scoring 40 in English season

Guy Whittingham has saluted Aleksandar Mitrovic for ending his reign as the last man to score 40 goals in an English league season but believes the Fulham striker will be even happier with promotion.

Mitrovic scored twice against Preston to reach the magical landmark last achieved when Whittingham went on to notch 42 for Portsmouth in 1992-93.

And the win brought with it promotion to the Premier League, continuing Fulham’s yo-yo run and seeing them go one better than Whittingham’s team almost 30 years ago, who remarkably missed out on goals scored despite his exploits.

“Fond memories obviously, but the lasting memory was the disappointment of not winning promotion,” Whittingham told the PA news agency.

“That was the closest I got to a promotion, they come around very rarely.”

Mitrovic’s goals have come in 38 appearances and Derek Dooley’s post-war record in the second tier – 46 for Sheffield Wednesday in 1951-52 – could still be within range.

“I think there was one even longer ago got 56 or something,” said Whittingham, referring to George Camsell’s 59 for Middlesbrough in 1926-27. “That’s just crazy.

“(Mitrovic) needs (three goals in four games) to beat mine so I can’t see him not doing it.”

Despite the individual accolades, Whittingham was quick to share the credit for that season with his team-mates.

“You’re only as good as the players around you,” he said. “I had Paul Walsh, Mark Chamberlain, Alan McLoughlin, Steve Wigley, Ray Daniel, and a side where (manager) Jim Smith wanted to get crosses into the box.”

Walsh, indeed, beat Whittingham to Pompey’s player-of-the-season award that year after playing a key role in attack.

“He was – and rightly so, I’ve never said anything different,” said Whittingham. “He was the