By Joseph Chapman
New West Bromwich Albion boss Ryan Mason has confirmed that striker Josh Maja is ‘progressing well’ as he bids to return to action in time for the beginning of the new Championship season. Maja was Albion’s top goalscorer with 12 goals in 26 appearances last season, despite the fact that he didn’t play beyond early January after suffering a lower leg injury which required surgery. It was hoped that the striker would return before the end of last season to aid their bid for a top six finish, but he didn’t recover in time. Reporting for pre-season, Maja returns to a new man at the helm in Mason , but he isn’t quite yet ready to join in with the intense work which the bulk of the squad are being required to complete as they prepare for their friendly campaign. For the time being, the forward is making progress while being carefully managed by the club’s sports science staff. “He’s in a good place,” Mason said. “He’s progressing well and we’re happy with where he is at.” He added of the squad he has inherited: “There are different players at different stages of their career and it’s my job to get as much out of them as I can. That’s something that excites me. Someone in the position I’m in, that’s a part of my job. I’m still assessing every individual, but the fundamentals we’re trying to build right now are key to what we are wanting to do.” Albion have staggered the returns of a number of their players; Isaac Price, Torbjorn Heggem and Callum Styles have all joined pre-season training a little later having been away with their respective nations over the course of the summer and so holidaying later. Tom Fellows, who returns an U21 Euro winner with England, is still on a break.