Roy Hodgson jokes about statue for Scott Parker if Fulham boss mirrors his Great Escape from the Premier League drop

Roy Hodgson reckons that if Scott Parker keeps Fulham up it will be a similar ‘Great Escape’ to the one he fashioned while he was the west London club’s manager.

Fulham’s Premier League relegation looked a certainty in the 2007-2008 season only before an amazing fightback from 2-0 down to beat Manchester City in late April.

The Whites won their final two matches to stay up. And Hodgson then went on to take the club to the Europa League final in 2010, Diego Forlan sealing victory for Atletico Madrid in extra time.

Asked if his spell in charge of Fulham was his greatest success against the odds, Hodgson replied: “Yeah, certainly in recent times – without a shadow of doubt.

“You must remember the 1976 championship with Halmstad is probably the greatest ever Cinderella achievement, if you like, but that was in the Swedish league. I’m not suggesting that should be compared to surviving in the Premier League so many years later.

“I do regard that moment as one of the very big highlights of my career. When you get that type of situation where you have achieved so wonderfully with a group of players, together, over two-and-a-half years the bond between everyone is pretty much unbreakable. It brings a friendship, respect and admiration that lasts a lot longer than the actual years you work together.”

Fulham head to Hodgson’s Crystal Palace tomorrow.

The likes of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was adamant they were going down after some disastrous results in the opening weeks – but an consistent extended upturn in form has left them back in the hunt for survival.

Asked if it would compare with the magic he worked by the Thames, Hodgson said: “I think they would. It was such a bad start and everyone was writing them off at a fairly early stage – that’s a direct parallel. The second time they have been up and down, as it were, and recovered from an unfortunate Premier League season and then fighting your way back up from the Championship again – there will be plenty of space for Scott’s statue alongside Bobby Robson’s and George Cohen’s.”