Fulham have become a yoyo club over recent years with the West London side bouncing between the Championship and the Premier League. 

Marco Silva's side have made a positive start to their 21/22 campaign, sitting in fifth with 20 points from a possible 33 so far.

But they've endured a blip recently with three defeats in their last six, including a 4-1 mauling away at Coventry City just before the international break.

Fulham were top up until defeats to Reading and Coventry in recent games, but that shouldn't distract them from their overall objective of promotion this season.

Former striker Dimitar Berbatov has weighed, saying his former club should learn from their past mistakes if they are to go up this season.

When asked about Fulham's bright start to the season, Berbatov told the Daily Mirror: "That's something that hasn't surprised me.

"But Fulham need to learn. They are doing the hard work, fighting promotions, then going to the Premier League, then getting relegated, then promoted, then relegated.

"It's strange, I am watching them and I'm like 'Guys, come on! You've done it twice now'.

"If you do it a third time, get promoted and relegated again, then something is not right. Maybe you don't belong to the Premier League."

Despite the critique of the clubs recent seasons in the Premier League and the Championship, Berbatov spoke very highly of his time at Fulham: "I wish them luck, I wish them to get promoted and I wish from the bottom of my heart that when they get to the Premier League they fix their defence and stay there.

"The club is great, it has a great training ground, I love the club, and it's a great place in London. So please stay in the Premier League when that moment arrives."

The Verdict

Berbatov is right in highlighting that the club should be doing better. They were a Premier League mainstay from 2001 up until their relegation in 2014 and were seen as a big side.

Over recent years, their poor recruitment strategy and overspending has shackled them in some areas which has ultimately held them back.

They have a crop of players at the moment who are certainly too good for the Championship, but probably not quite enough for the Premier League which lends into that yoyo club mentality.

If Fulham are to get promoted this season, which isn't a guarantee, having a sustainable long-term plan is essential if they are to ensure they remain a Premier League side.