West Brom ace must win over Ryan Mason in crucial season for Baggies future after £4.7m signing

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West Brom have cemented themselves as promotion contenders this season, in what could be one high-profile player’s last at the Hawthorns.

West Brom appointed former Spurs coach Ryan Mason as Tony Mowbray’s successor earlier in the summer, and the Baggies’ early-season form has vindicated that decision.

Three wins and a draw from their first four Championship outings of the season has placed Mason’s side second in the table, hot on the tails of league leaders Middlesbrough.

This weekend, West Brom face Derby County only weeks after the Rams inflicted a penalty shoot-out defeat on the Baggies in the Carabao Cup.

One Baggies star is facing a pivotal season for his future at the Hawthorns in 2025/26, and with his current deal expiring next summer, he must win over Mason before May.

• READ MORE: Birmingham City, Wrexham and West Brom fight to sign ‘excellent’ free agent Ryan Mason loved at Spurs

Josh Maja must impress Ryan Mason for his West Brom future

Maja arrived at the Hawthorns from Bordeaux in 2023 on a free transfer, but the striker’s debut season was limited to just 12 appearances due to a torn ligament injury.

Last season, the Sunderland academy graduate showed the goalscoring prowess he is capable of after scoring 12 goals and registering two assists in 26 appearances to end the season as the Baggies’ top scorer.

Former Baggies boss Tony Mowbray loved Maja, but it remains to be seen whether his successor Mason shares the same adoration for the forward.

After West Brom signed Aune Heggebo for £4.7m this summer, the Norwegian frontman has cemented himself as Mason’s first-choice number nine thus far.

Heggebo scored his first Baggies goal in the cup defeat to Derby, and has failed to find the net so far in the Championship, but his assist against Blackburn Rovers for Isaac Price’s winner highlights his worth to Mason’s side purely with his physical presence.

Following Heggebo’s arrival, Maja has been given just nine minutes of Championship action by Mason after his return from an injury he suffered in January, which required surgery.

With Maja’s current Baggies contract set to expire at the end of this season, the onus is on the Nigerian international to displace Heggebo and earn himself fresh terms at the Hawthorns.

• READ MORE: Chris Brunt praises West Brom star Isaac Price amid Premier League interest in ‘massive threat’

Josh Maja must stay fit to impress Ryan Mason at West Brom

As all Sunderland fans will attest to after his outstanding breakout season in the EFL during 2018/19, in which he scored 15 goals in just 24 League One outings, the ability of Maja is undeniable.

The centre-forward’s ability to score from all angles comfortably makes Maja an extremely tricky customer for defences to deal with.

However, the constant question mark lingering over his footballing future is his ability to stay off the sidelines.

Via the Express and Star, Mason said to the BBC of Maja last month: “We know Josh’s situation. He had a very long time out.

“We are just trying to make sure we can get him to a point where he can help us throughout the season.”

They say in football that the best ability is availability, and Maja’s fight for fitness will be pivotal to whether his future lies with the Baggies or away from Mason’s side beyond next summer.