Anthony Knockaert says it was tough leaving Albion fans

The on-loan French winger says his season on loan to Fulham has so far been “mixed”.

And he reckons getting used to life away from the Seagulls, where he was the “darling” of the fans, might be the reason.

Fulham are third in the Championship with the season on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Knockaert joined the Cottagers on loan last summer and will almost certainly convert that into a permanent deal.

He believes that could yet be on the Premier League stage on which he shone occasionally - but arguably not often enough – with Albion.

But he is very honest when discussing what he has added to Fulham so far.

The winger said: “If I am honest with myself, personally I have had quite a mixed season.

“Was it down to the adaptation to the club?

“It has been a big change because I came from Brighton, where I was a little bit the darling of the supporters.

“I had always been loved from the first day there.

“I had some extraordinary times in that town and with that club.

“For me, that was the club where I have enjoyed the best moments of my life up to now.

“It was hard for me to realise I was leaving Brighton and arriving in a new environment.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve not had the best season of my career.

“But I have brought what I can because, you know me well, I am someone who never cheats on the pitch.

“In terms of desire and determination, I have always brought my best.

“In terms of stats and performances, it has not been the best season I have had.”

Knockaert now lives in Wimbledon and made the short trips to support both Albion’s under-21s when they visited the Dons and the seniors when they were at Chelsea.

He has started 24 league games for Fulham and come off the bench in a further nine, scoring three goals and adding four assists.

The 28-year-old Frenchman told beIN Sports in France: “Collectively we have had a quite an average season given the squad we have.

“When the season was ended (for now), for me we should have been top with the squad we have.

“When you look at the players, on paper it’s mind-blowing but we have been really inconsistent.

“If I could give you a word for our season, it would be ‘inconsistent’.

“There have been periods when we have won three matches in a row and then, boom! We lose three.

“It has been full of highs and lows but we are still there.

“We are third and there are nine matches left.

“We are six points off second and we still have got to go to Leeds and West Brom.

“They are big matches and we are in the race.

“We would rather play matches like that - and play them away from home. They will have the pressure on them to get a result and we were already prepared to go into the play-offs.”

The destiny of the current Championship season remains uncertain, as does the issue of promotion should matches not continue.

If action resumes, loan players such as Knockaert and those out of contract will have deals extended to see out the season, proving all parties agree.

That is likely to be fairly academic for the former Leicester man, who expects to be at Fulham next season whatever happens.

The ruling is of more relevance to Ben White at Leeds, Matt Clarke at Derby, Jayson Molumby at Millwall and Christian Walton at Blackburn, all of whom will be expected to return at end of the current campaign and at least compete for an Albion squad place next season.

Viktor Gyokeres and Leo Ostigard are at St Pauli, who resume their second-tier Bundesliga season on Sunday.