Hangeland hails hot-shot Pavel

05 March 2012 15:47

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland believes Pavel Pogrebnyak has adapted to life at the club in 'record time' and cannot see an end to his scoring streak.

The 28-year-old continued his superb start to life in the Barclays Premier League with a hat-trick in the 5-0 thrashing of relegation-threatened Wolves at Craven Cottage. Pogrebnyak has now netted five goals in three appearances, which has left team-mate Hangeland struggling for superlatives.

"If it keep going like this who knows where it is going to end?" the Norway international said. "I'm very happy for him."

He added: "The goals are one thing, but he works so hard and that is what you want to see, especially as a defender.

"When you look at your strikers you just want them to run around like mad men and that is what they did today, both of them.

"And for him to score three goals as well is impressive."

Pogrebnyak was drafted in on January transfer deadline day to fill the void left by Bobby Zamora's move to QPR.

Hangeland believes the Russia international shares some similar characteristics with the former Fulham favourite and predicts his partnership with Andrew Johnson will go from strength to strength.

"They have a few similar traits but he does run around a bit more," the centre-back said. "He looks really fit and he looks as if he's adapted to the style of play here in record time, so all credit to him.

"(Pogrebnyak and Johnson) do look a strong partnership. It is the classic one - a big striker who can hold the ball up well and AJ just running in behind - he's in great form as well so I'm happy they're playing for my team at the moment."

Source: PA