Newcastle's Aleksandar Mitrovic reacts to latest award as Islam Slimani faces up to ban

Mitrovic, on loan to Fulham, has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for April.

The striker scored five goals in six games last month as his club kept the pressure up on second-placed Cardiff City.

Mitrovic – who scored Fulham's winner against Sunderland a week ago – had also won the award for March.

"It feels great, I'm glad for the award," said 23-year-old Mitrovic. "But I'm even happier that the team's doing well and keep winning games. We have one game to go before the end of the regular season, so we have to focus on this game to try and win and see what happens with Cardiff.

"Coming to Fulham has gone much better than I could have ever expected, and I hope it can continue."

Mitrovic, on the fringes at St James's Park under Rafa Benitez, was loaned to Fulham in January after Islam Slimani joined Newcastle on loan from Leicester City.

However, Slimani's move has not been a success. The 29-year-old will miss the club's three remaining games through suspension after kicking out at Craig Dawson in last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.