Nigerian forward, Josh Maja, could miss the rest of the season as he is still struggling to recover from a lower leg injury, according to West Brom manager Tony Mowbray. Maja, who had been in excellent form earlier this season, has been sidelined since early January due to the injury, which required surgery to repair. The injury has kept him off the pitch for several months now, with his return date still uncertain, much to the concern of the West Brom coaching staff and fans alike.

When Maja initially sustained the injury, the expectation was that he would return by February. However, his recovery process has taken longer than initially anticipated, which has meant that he has now missed West Brom’s last 14 matches across all competitions. This extended period on the sidelines has been a significant blow to the team, as Maja had been one of their standout performers before his injury, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in 26 appearances for the club.

Providing an update on Maja’s situation, Tony Mowbray acknowledged that the striker’s return remains uncertain. He mentioned that while Maja remains upbeat and positive about his recovery, it’s clear that he still has a way to go before he can return to action. Mowbray shared with Express & Star, “I saw Maja on Tuesday, happy, nice and smiley but still feels as if he is a little bit away but hopefully if we can extend the season he might have a part to play.” Despite his positive attitude, Mowbray confirmed that Maja’s recovery process is ongoing and that it’s still too early to predict when he might be able to return to competitive action.

“I’m sure it has been tough. He’s been in a brace thing on his left most of the time I’ve been here,” Mowbray continued, referring to Maja’s recovery journey. “When I bump into him in the corridor and ask how he is, he’s pretty positive. I think he’s looking forward to getting back and showing us what he can do.” Despite the long recovery process, Mowbray noted that Maja's positive attitude is encouraging, as he remains eager to get back on the pitch and contribute to the team once he is fully recovered.

Mowbray further emphasized the impact Maja’s absence has had on the team, stating, “You’d have to say Maja is a miss to the football club with his goals that he obviously could bring and has brought already the first half of the season.” Maja’s goalscoring ability and his overall contribution to West Brom’s attack were vital to the team’s success earlier in the season, and his absence has left a noticeable gap in the squad.

With just seven games remaining in the Championship, Maja’s injury means that he is set to miss the remainder of the regular season. If West Brom secures a play-off spot, there remains a slight chance that Maja could return in time to make a contribution during the play-off matches, but this remains uncertain. The club’s current position in the league is crucial to whether Maja will have the opportunity to return, as West Brom sits sixth in the Championship standings, and the battle for a play-off spot is growing increasingly intense as the season nears its end.

West Brom will be hoping that they can continue to perform well in Maja’s absence and secure a place in the play-offs, where his potential return could provide a much-needed boost to the squad as they aim to achieve promotion to the Premier League. For now, all eyes will be on Maja’s recovery and the team's efforts to finish the season strongly despite the challenges posed by his injury.