Carlos Corberan has finally found West Brom competition for Brandon Thomas-Asante in Josh Maja
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has suggested Josh Maja is now in a position to rival Brandon Thomas-Asante for a starting spot.
The Baggies have relied heavily on Thomas-Asante, who has led the line well this season with three goals and an assist in five games.
But Corberan now has some competition in that key area of the field as Maja is fully up to speed after two weeks on the training ground.
Maja joined from Ligue 2 side Bordeaux in the summer and has so far been restricted to four substitute appearances, totalling 67 minutes.
Speaking ahead of West Brom’s trip to Bristol City on Saturday [16 September], Corberan suggested Maja may start at Ashton Gate.
“Maja didn’t have a pre-season, but he is someone who has a high level of work ethic and he works really hard and with a high level of football commitment – and he has the experience of playing games in a row,” Corberan said, as per Birmingham Live [14 September].
“He played many minutes last year in France. It takes time to adapt to his level, but I can see that level and he just needs some time to take on our demands.
“In France he played a lot as a number nine but he played more as a link player. He was attacking as a ten and defending as a nine. I want both – I want to see a player who can drop in as a nine, who can run in behind, a number nine who is aggressive in the pressing when we need to.
“I think that having adapted to his normal levels and to the needs of the team, he has recovered his level and is ready to compete, but he needs this space of adaptation. I think I could go with Maja in the first XI and he will be ready to play.”
Should Maja start against Bristol City, it will almost certainly not be at the expense of Thomas-Asante, who is in good form.
It would instead likely be in one of the three attacking midfield positions, which were occupied by John Swift, Matt Phillips and Jed Wallace in the 2-1 loss to Huddersfield Town last time out.
Maja’s return to fitness provides Corberan with an additional option in that area of the field, and some real competition for Thomas-Asante once he fully finds his feet.
If he can replicate the form that saw him score 16 goals in 38 Ligue 2 games last season, Maja could yet prove the difference between mid-table obscurity and a push for the play-offs.
In other West Brom news, Matt Phillips has made clear what the Baggies’ aim for the season is.