Carlos Corberan sets Josh Maja new challenge at West Brom
Carlos Corberan has set Josh Maja a new challenge to earn his first West Brom start, suggesting the striker must become fitter to play more minutes.
The Nigerian forward joined the ranks at The Hawthorns from Bordeaux this summer but has struggled with both fitness and injury issues that have meant that he has only been able to play 132 minutes of Championship football.
However, the 24-year-old scored his first goal in Albion colours against Leicester City on Saturday 2 December, yet Corberan still believes that Maja must improve his fitness to be introduced earlier in matches.
As quoted by the Express & Star (5 December) he said: “I think Josh Maja, if he is not starting the game, it is because he still needed the time to be ready. Hopefully, during the next game, he is more fit and he is ready to be in the pitch for more minutes because we know he’s a very good player.
“I understand these things happen (fitness and injury) but he has scored many goals in his career, last year he was the player who scored more goals in France (Ligue 2) and he is a player for more who has the instinct of a goal.
“For me, the most important thing is to have him available to compete with the team – that’s all.”
Excellent option
West Brom are currently short of attacking options and for the last few months, the only recognised striker at The Hawthorns has been Brandon Thomas-Asante who has never been particularly prolific in front of goal.
Maja was signed to finally solve Corberan’s goal-scoring problem after an impressive season in France which saw him score 16 goals in Ligue 2, but because of a combination of injury and a lack of fitness when he arrived he hasn’t had the desired impact.
Just when he looked to be hitting his groove, he picked up a knock against Bristol City that ruled him out for the majority of September and the entirety of October and November. Now he looks ready and hungry to kick on.
If Maja can stay injury-free and continue to impress from the bench as he builds his fitness, it won’t be long before Corberan names him in his starting XI. Thomas-Asante hasn’t found the net since October so the Baggies need a new presence up top, so the shirt is there to be won.
In other West Brom news, Corberan has shared a triple injury update at The Hawthorns including on Matt Phillips