Ola Aina’s wonder goal against West Brom last November is one of the goals shortlisted for Fulham’s goal of the season award.
The stunning strike in Fulham’s 2-0 win over the Magpies was named the Premier League Goal of the Month for November.
The Super Eagles defender sealed the Cottagers’ first league win of the season in style on November 2, when he fired in a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box.
It was Aina’s maiden goal in the Premier League having previously played for Chelsea, where he won two top-flight titles.
Also shortlisted is Ademola Lookman’s left footed strike in the 1-1 draw against Sheffield United in October last year.
Meabnwhile, Ola Aina says he is gutted his return to South-West London didn’t have a better outcome, but he’s certainly felt at home as part of the Fulham family.
With his actual family living a stone’s throw from the club’s Motspur Park training base, it was an ideal loan move from Torino for the versatile defender.
“For me, to be back in London especially, back in the area, was really good for me,” he told the official website. “I’ve got good friends round here, my family, which is good for that extra support.
“My family loved it. My little brothers did. The littlest one had really missed me for two years, with me being in Italy, so for me to come back here was really good.”
After making his debut for the Whites on a difficult night in the Carabao Cup against Brentford, Aina seemed to grow with every performance in a Fulham shirt, and ended up becoming a pillar of consistency.
“The beginning for me, my first match, was a bit shaky,” he admitted. “But since then I feel like the team and the coaching staff put a lot of time into me and I do feel I’ve improved since I’ve come in, so it’s been a great year for me in that sense, to play consistent Premier League football.
“It was a difficult start for us. Then in the middle of the season things started to look up. We were playing well, playing some good football and picking up some good results.
“Then after that we just seemed to run out of steam. But we still tried to do things the right way, we wanted to play good football.”
It seems a strange question to ask considering how the season ultimately ended, but did Aina enjoy his time at Fulham?
“I’ve loved it,” he replied. “I get asked this question all the time by a lot of people, and even though we’ve been relegated, I’ve loved every minute of this season.
“I’ve loved the challenge, the coaching staff, my teammates, and I’ve loved the Club as well. I’ve loved this Club, it’s a very nice club.
“The Club has become a part of me, and a part of all the other loan players, and I think you can see that.
“Even though we’re here on loan, we’re all part of the same fight. I really think the loan boys have taken up the challenge.
“Off the pitch we’ve always been very close with each other. We like each other’s company, so it’s been a really good group.
“We did really care about this season and how we did. It went wrong, but trust me, we really did care.”
One regret, though, is that he didn’t get to play in front of the Fulham fans more often, something that he feels may have played a part in our relegation.
“I think it’s affected most teams,” Aina said. “You look at Sheffield United, last year they were flying, and then this season you see what having no fans does.
“I think it’s affected a lot of teams, and we’re one of those. When we needed fans in the stadium for certain games, there are results that might have gone in our favour if they were there maybe.
“It has played a part in our season, I think, it has affected us. But we can’t be making excuses, it is what it is, we didn’t manage to stay up, but it would have been lovely for the fans to have been in the stadium this season.
“I’d just like to say thank you to them for all the support you’ve given me and the team. We wish you’d been with us the whole season, but it was good to have some of you back at the last game.”