Ryan Mason must axe Aune Heggebo after he cost West Brom in Middlesbrough defeat
Aune Heggebo simply has to be dropped by West Brom after his error cost them the game in their defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday night.
The Norwegian has frustrated Baggies fans with some of his recent performances, as he continues to struggle in front of goal as he finds his way in the Championship.
His West Brom side were condemned to a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, as goals from David Strelec and Kaly Sene dealt back-to-back losses to Albion, despite Heggebo’s late consolation.
Ryan Mason has shown patience with him in recent weeks, but he surely has to set a precedent by dropping the 24-year-old after he cost his team the game at the Riverside Stadium.
Aune Heggebo costs West Brom with lapse in concentration
Heggebo has worked tirelessly for West Brom since he joined in the summer, but he has struggled to provide quality in the final third in his first few games in English football.
The former Brann star finally netted his first league goal in the defeat to Middlesbrough, but it was his involvement at the opposite end of the pitch that will have left regrets for Albion.
Pressure has been mounting on Mason to drop the frontman, and he now has the perfect opportunity to do so following a lapse in concentration that cost his team a result on Friday night.
- Heggebo completed jsut 64% of his passes in the defeat to Middlesbrough
- His tally of 21 touches was the lowest of any player who started the game
- He managed just one touch in the Middlesbrough box all game
Heggebo was the man who was marking Strelec for the long throw that resulted in the first goal, and he allowed the Middlesbrough star to steal a march on him and turn home after a flick on at the near post.
It was a hugely disappointing moment from the new arrival, who let himself and his team down by not doing the basics in a key moment of the game.
Had Albion made it to half-time on level terms, it could have been a very different encounter in the second half.
Mason has to make it clear that mistakes like that cannot be tolerated if Albion are to mount a serious promotion push.
- Read More: Ryan Mason set for brutal Aune Heggebo decision vs Middlesbrough following Josh Maja update
Ryan Mason has to start Josh Maja vs Leicester
West Brom are preparing a new contract for Josh Maja, despite the lack of football that the 26-year-old has had to deal with so far this term.
Last season’s top scorer has been limited to just a handful of minutes so far in 2025/26, and that has come to the frustration of the Baggies fans.
Maja is a genuine goal scorer at Championship level, and with the slight concerns surrounding the firepower at the top of the pitch, it has seemed surprising that Mason hasn’t turned to the former Sunderland man earlier.
However, after the Middlesbrough game, there is surely no reason for him to overlook this switch after Heggebo’s error.
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