Pavel Pogrebnyak refuses to look beyond the present

Pavel Pogrebnyak scoring for Fulham at QPR (Getty Images)

Fulham striker Pavel Pogrebnyak insists he is only concerned about the present and not what will happen at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old has proved an inspired deadline-day capture for the Cottagers, having netted five goals in his first three Barclays Premier League matches.

Pogrebnyak's short-term deal runs to the end of the season and Fulham manager Martin Jol indicated on Sunday that talks to extend the striker's stay are under way.

The Russia international says he has enjoyed his start to life in west London but insists his only concern is ending the campaign strongly.

"I'm here for six months initially and after that the club and I will see what can happen," Pogrebnyak told Fulham's official magazine, Fultime.

"My target is adapt to English football and to learn the way of the team - these are the most important things.

"Right now I am only thinking about the present and the next game that comes.

"[It was an easy decision to come to Fulham as] there had been interest in me in the past so I was aware of Fulham as a club and had followed their progress for a while.

"It has long been a dream of mine to come and play in the Premier League, so when the circumstances came about to enable the move to happen in January I was naturally very happy."

While he did not need much persuading to join Fulham, Pogrebnyak revealed he spoke to international team-mates Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrey Arshavin before his deadline-day transfer.

"I did speak to them about England before making the move," Pogrebnyak said.

"But ultimately the decision was mine because it has been a long-term dream of mine to play in England. Now that dream has come true."

As well as excelling on the field, the former Spartak Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg striker says he is enjoying life off it.

"I like London very much, and England in general," he said.

"I was born in Moscow and I also lived in St Petersburg, so I am used to the big city and I like it noisy.

"In London I feel very comfortable in football and in my private life too.

"I like the double-decker buses and the architecture of London, and the red brick buildings.

"I think London has a very strong identity. When you are in London, you know you are in London, nowhere else."

PA