Josh Maja has to start for West Brom ahead of Aune Heggebo, and this key stat proves why
West Brom fans have been divided over who should be their first-choice striker of late.
Aune Heggebo began the campaign leading the line for the baggies, but he is still taking time to properly settle into English football, and is producing only brief flashes of quality at this stage of his Albion career.
As a result, Josh Maja’s return for West Brom in recent weeks has provided a natural comparison between the two from supporters, and it has certainly been an issue that has split opinions.
Both stars have plenty of upsides that they provide for Ryan Mason’s side, but current evidence suggests that there is only one man who the boss should be turning to.
Josh Maja’s conversation rate stands him clear of Aune Heggebo
Heggebo struggled for West Brom in their 3-0 defeat to Millwall on Saturday, as he had a difficult afternoon up against a stereotypical Championship centre-half in Jake Cooper.
It was an uncharacteristic display from the Norwegian, who has provided his team with a useful foothold in the game more often than not with his ability to hold the ball up.
Maja also had a similarly insignificant impact when he was introduced from the bench this time around, but he possesses what his counterpart doesn’t, and that is a natural instinct for scoring goals.
Heggebo has a higher xG, completes more key passes per game and has created more big chances for his teammates, but he simply cannot match his rival’s ability to stay cool when a chance comes his way.
The 24-year-old’s conversion rate so far this term stands at a measly 6%, whereas Maja’s sits at a significantly higher 25%, as per statistics from Sofascore, and it is that stat that tells you all you need to know at the moment.
Granted, the former Sunderland marksman has had many fewer games, but he is a far superior finisher, and often needs only one opportunity in order to find the back of the net.
Josh Maja provides more value for West Brom at the moment
Heggebo has shown plenty of promise for West Brom since he came to the club, and his time will undoubtedly come at some stage this season, but Maja is so much more useful to Albion right now.
The Baggies are struggling to create enough clear-cut chances to pull away from their opponents, and as a result, they are having to put their bodies on the line to cling on to 1-0 leads very frequently.
- West Brom have created 15 big chances in the league so far this season
- That ranks as the joint-thirteenth highest tally in the Championship
- Their total is equal to that of Sheffield Wednesday, who are in the relegation zone
Their tally of 16 big chances so far this season isn’t even good enough to rank them in the top half of the Championship table, and with that in mind, Maja simply has to start.
Mason’s men are regularly going through games feeding off scraps in the final third, and that means that when a chance does fall to them, it simply has to go in.
With that in mind, for now at least, there can be no real debate that it is Maja who should be leading the line.
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