West Brom have been robbed of one dynamic all season but there’s time for an impact

Josh Maja had to have had a sardonic smile on his face when West Bromwich Albion under 21s defeated Leeds United on Monday night. Fenton Heard’s brace in the first half after setting up the game’s first goal was just a taste of what the center forward is capable of.

The obvious problem is that, prior to Albion’s final regular season game, Maja is playing at The Hawthorns on a Monday night against and in front of a mostly empty stadium, among young players, as his most recent recovery effort reaches yet another benchmark. In a different universe, he would have reached double figures, made forty appearances, and experienced a flawless debut season with Albion.

a string of severe injuries to his ankle has completely ruined those hopes. Maja, one of just three permanent additions that Carlos Corberan has been able to make since joining the team, has played in 11 games this season but has only played in slightly more than 180 minutes of Championship action. After being sent off at Bristol City in September, he was the victim of yet another strong challenge in December at Sunderland.

Josh is a really tough one, Maja’s captain Jed Wallace remarked, feeling like the season has been stolen from him. “I believe that pulling a hammy while sprinting down the wing is one thing. It’s difficult for him to accept it when he gets wiped out twice on the same ankle. He has a distinct profile to our current situation. He has the ability to connect the play, allowing either Brandon or me to go in behind.

Josh can link plays, has a terrific first touch, and enjoys getting to the ball. He has a lot of time to create an impression because he signed a long-term contract. If he wins in the ninetieth minute, then in my opinion, he’s had an excellent season. He still has a lot of potential to impact this year. There is someone there named He. The guys we now have outside the squad demonstrate the group’s power.”

Corberan doesn’t usually travel to see the 21s play, but he and his crew were all inattendance on Monday night at The Hawthorns. Maja won’t likely start when Preston North End visits on Saturday, but Corberan was happy with what he observed as Maja keeps increasing his level of fitness in preparation for a potential play-off campaign.

He claimed to have sent a message the other day making it clear that he required the minutes in order to be prepared to support the squad in any situation I believe to be appropriate. “It is imperative that I stress that the athlete has missed time from group training due to two significant injuries that have prevented him from finding his rhythm and demonstrating hisactual player level – only small portions prior to the injury; patience is required.

“We had the chance to give him minutes with the under 21s when we needed to increase his level after a six-week sabbatical and started him at 45, then 60. Even though the other day’s minutes weren’t championship minutes—which the under 21s can’t match—you still have the chance to get stronger physically. Maja is in better shape now than he was before these seventy minutes.”

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