Yahoo News West Brom injury update on Josh Maja, Jayson Molumby and Daryl Dike
Josh Maja could return to take part in West Bromwich Albion's meeting with former club Sunderland at The Hawthorns this week. Striker Maja, whose Albion career threatened to have lift off after his first goal in the defeat to Leicester City in December, suffered ankle ligament damage on his return to the Stadium Of Light a week later, in which the Baggies suffered a loss to the Black Cats.
Maja, who had broken into first-team football while on Wearside before leaving England for Bordeaux, signed on a free transfer in the summer and was brought in to beef up Carlos Corberan's attacking unit. As a link striker, it was hoped that Maja could bring a differing skill-set to the Spaniard's existing options. Injuries suffered at Bristol City and then at Sunderland, the latter following a challenge from Dan Ballard, has rather ruined his first campaign.
"Josh Maja is very close to being available, but from the physical perspective he is still in the last part of his process," Corberan said. "From the medical perspective, he is fine. From the physical perspective, we're in the last part of the work. He will be maybe be in for Sunderland, 100% he will be in for the next game [at Leicester].
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"Against Sunderland, he will be close. It's not enough just to be available. The player must be ready to compete, and they're not the same. Physically, there is still a little bit of work to do. He can be ready for Sunderland, if not, for the next week.
"With Maja, he has probably decreased the timing and Maja is working very hard. He is very soon going to be not only available but ready to compete. His level now can be more than he had before because I can see a change in his body, that allows me to think that we are going to have a better version of the player."
It's been hoped for some time that Maja could return for the run-in as Albion target a play-off campaign following the conclusion of the regular Championship season; certainly in the absence of Daryl Dike, Corberan has only had top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante as a natural centre forward option and he has often turned to Jed Wallace or Andreas Weimann to lead the line, although both players could be considered stronger options when utilised out wide.
It's been a positive few weeks for Albion on the injury front; having avoided a serious injury to Cedric Kipre, who missed only a single game with a sore shoulder suffered at Millwall on Good Friday, they've welcomed back Matt Phillips and Thomas-Asante recently, while Yann M'Vila has also become available after a period of catching up following his arrival on a short-term basis. Now, only Dike and Jayson Molumby remain the long-term absentees.
Maja could have a part to play as part of the squad in the coming games, but for now Corberan is watching the forward closely after he returned to full training during the recent international break. Eager not to rush the player back after such a long lay-off when recovering from a serious injury, to be able to call upon the striker - Albion's only permanent addition in the summer - could be a serious shot in the arm for their remaining games.
Albion welcome Rotherham United to The Hawthorns first up on Wednesday evening; the Millers have endured a miserable campaign and were relegated on Friday night when losing at home to survival rivals Plymouth Argyle. They're winless on the road all season and have conceded 56 goals in their previous 20 away matches.
Corberan also provided positive updates on Daryl Dike and Jayson Molumby. The pair remain out and will miss these remaining games of the season, but both are with the main group.
"Everyone else is fine," Corberan added. "I am watching Molumby training here now and it's something very positive. He is training with the fitness staff on the pitch, he is running. It's something which makes us happy. Dike has been back here working from two weeks ago and he's started his recovery, it's very positive to see him having the contact with the group again. Unfortunately they cannot help the team in the pitch.
"With Molumby, it's an injury which needs time. It's not a muscle injury, it's the protocol of a specific surgery which we need to respect. He cannot move forward, because it's a question of timing. They need to fix the injury with surgery over a couple of steps. It happened with Grady last year. As soon as he is available, he's ready - that's the difference."
