Callum O'Connell

Tue 19 September 2023 20:10, UK

West Brom have now confirmed that Josh Maja has suffered torn ankle ligaments, which will keep him out for at least eight weeks, leaving Brandon Thomas-Asante as the only fit striker at the club.

The striker will need to step up in the absence of all backup, as he will now be relied upon as the club’s main source of goals for the immediate future and after a positive start to the season so far will be expected to manage the weight of expectation.

Maja’s injury means he joins the other striker at the club, Daryl Dike, on the treatment table, with the former expected to return after the November international break, and the latter expected in December – although there is no clear time frame for Dike.

Thomas-Asante began the season as the club’s only striker option after Maja arrived without any pre-season training which meant he took some time to get properly up to speed before he could be considered a contender for a starting place in Carlos Corberan’s side.

In fact, Maja was only just beginning to approach full fitness, and his cameo performance against Bristol City should have earned him a start against Watford if not for the injury.

One positive is that Thomas-Asante has been handling that weight of expectation fantastically so far this season, relishing the chance to be the main man in this side, with three goals and an assist from his opening six games of the season.

Now, though, he will be under pressure to keep that level of form going until Maja returns, as well as hoping he doesn’t pick up any knocks himself which could put Corberan in a critical situation with no fit strikers.

The Baggies will be grateful to have bounced back any offers received for Thomas-Asante in the summer transfer window, after reports of late bids from Stoke City [Express and Star, 31 August], because if he had left, the club would be in serious trouble now.

In other West Brom news, one new star could be set to make his first start against Watford.