Brandon Thomas-Asante may only have one game left to preserve his West Brom career as Josh Maja nears a return from injury after more than two months out.
Josh Maja is scheduled to miss the game against Ipswich with an ankle injury, according to Dr Rajpal Brar, and will be gradually worked back into the picture, giving Thomas-Asante a chance to rescue his career.
Maja was initially sidelined by an ankle ligament injury on September 19 [West Brom website] and was expected to be out for eight weeks.
In Albion’s 2-1 loss at Southampton on 11 November, although the majority of the team performed admirably despite the result, Thomas-Asante put in another poor performance up front.
He touched the ball fewer times than Alex Palmer (28 to Palmer’s 38), only completed 13 passes while playing the entire game, and only won three of 10 attempted duels at a success percentage of 33%, not to mention his inefficiency in front of goal. [Sofascore]
The forward, who was thought to be Albion’s first-choice number nine, has had a difficult season, but his goal against Coventry was his first from open play since August, demonstrating how little impact he has had on this side.
Maja’s comeback might be the beginning of the end for Thomas-Asante, and if the former can have a strong run of form and establish he can be counted on as the main striker, Thomas-Asante could be replaced.
Interest in the striker surfaced earlier this summer when a last-minute proposal from Stoke City was rejected [Express & Star, 30 August], and if that interest persists, West Brom may choose to sell for a decent profit to aid their financial condition.
He’ll need to improve his form to save his spot at The Hawthorns, and the game against Ipswich could be his only chance to show his manager what he’s capable of.
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