Josh Maja, striker for both the Super Eagles and West Bromwich Albion, expressed immense joy after netting the decisive goal in his team’s 1-0 victory over Norwich City, according to Soccernet.ng.
At 26 years old, Maja had a promising start to 2025, highlighted by a hat-trick against Preston North End, before a lower leg injury sidelined him. To accelerate his recovery, he underwent surgery.
Making his comeback in August, the former Fulham forward featured briefly, playing 12 minutes in West Brom’s 1-1 draw with Derby County in the EFL Cup.
After nearly ten months without a start, manager Ryan Mason entrusted Maja to spearhead the attack against Norwich. The striker justified this faith by scoring in the 20th minute before being substituted around the 60-minute mark.
| GOAL, Josh Maja Gives West Brom the Lead !!!!
NORWICH CITY 0 – 1 WEST BROM #WBA #NCFC pic.twitter.com/9kwlUHeTNa
– WideFootball (@_widefootball) October 1, 2025
Maja Credits Goal for Renewed Confidence
Reflecting on his return to the starting lineup after a lengthy absence, Maja shared his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity.
“Being back in the starting eleven after such a long time felt incredible,” the ex-Stoke City forward told the club’s official website.
“I was eager to prove myself and I’m thankful to the manager for trusting me with this chance.
“Scoring the winning goal was fantastic, but securing the victory was what mattered most. I hope this marks the beginning of a strong run for us.
“Finding the net is one of my key strengths, and I aim to keep contributing goals while helping the team succeed.
“I want this to be the start of a period where I score consistently, which is every striker’s ambition.”
When asked about breaking his scoring drought, the former Bordeaux player described the moment as exhilarating.
“It’s hard to put into words the thrill of scoring, but it was definitely an adrenaline rush. I experienced similar feelings last season, so it’s great to open my account this year. It feels like a blessing,” Maja explained.
“We’ve had a solid start to the campaign, and I’ve been focused on regaining full fitness after my injury. My priority has been training hard and staying prepared for when the team needs me.”
“The medical and coaching staff have been outstanding in supporting my recovery, and I’m very grateful to them.”
“Tonight was the perfect moment to step in, score, and help the team secure the win.”
“Winning away in this league is tough, so this three-point haul is a huge confidence boost. We showed great resilience during challenging moments, which speaks volumes about our character,” he concluded.
West Brom’s head coach, Ryan Mason, also lauded Maja’s performance, emphasizing his unwavering belief in the striker’s talent.
“I’m thrilled for Josh to have scored. He’s put in tremendous effort, and we’ve been patient with his comeback,” Mason said during his post-match press conference.
“Given the time he’s been out, we felt it was best to be cautious, but we always knew he could influence matches.”
“This goal will do wonders for his confidence moving forward.”
Ryan Mason’s playing career was cut short in 2017 due to a severe skull injury sustained in a collision with Gary Cahill. Transitioning into coaching, he took on an interim role at Tottenham Hotspur in 2021 before being appointed West Brom’s head coach in June.
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