Monichev: Watch Pogrebnyak fade away

Igor Monichev, a Russian correspondent for talkSport, has made suggestions that Pavel Pogrebnyak's inspirational start to his life in England is surprising at best, claiming we'll never see him score five goals in three games ever again.

Pogrebnyak, signed initially on a loan deal from VFB Stuttgart, has heavily impressed in his three appearances for Fulham, scoring in each game and adding a hat trick in his last outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Manager Martin Jol has openly admitted that the move to sign him was risky, but given his recent heroics, Jol is already talking of making the move a permanent one.

The Pog had a hard time of it in Germany, but his previous record at Zenit St Petersburg was more-than respectable. Despite this, Monichev has claimed that Jol should be wary of offering the Russian anything on a long term basis.

"It's amazing," Monichev stated when asked about Pogrebnyak's form for the Cottagers.

"My opinion, and common opinion here, is that Pogrebnyak has never before scored five goals in three games and he never will do it again.

"If the rumours that Martin Jol has already said he's prepared to sign him full scale [are true],I wouldn't hurry. I would wait until Pogrebnyak plays against a tighter defence and watch his scoring talents fade away."

Monichev didn't stop there, however, and went on to compare Pogrebnyak to some of his compatriots.

"In my opinion, and actually it's one of the few opinions which we share with the Russian national team manager Dick Advocat, he's a much weaker striker than Roman Pavlyuchenko for example.

"Pogrebnyak probably comes as number three [in Advocat's list of preferred strikers]. I'm not a great fan of his.

"I'm afraid it's just a very nice beginning of a very average career in England which will end in the same way as Roman Pavlyuchenko's."