Surgery required as West Brom star hit with injury blow

Twelve-goal Maja, 26, was left out of last weekend's FA Cup defeat at Bournemouth with interim boss Chris Brunt citing knocks and niggles among the squad. Defender Kyle Bartley was also rested.

It has been confirmed that the frontman will now be out of the squad for 'several weeks' with the club hopeful Maja can make a return in the spring.

Maja will undergo surgery on the lower leg setback in the coming days before a period of rehabilitation.

Albion have been heavily reliant on the Nigerian frontman this term given a lack of depth in the forward department. Karlan Grant has been a useful foil in recent months, but options elsewhere are thin on the ground.

Fellow frontman Daryl Dike is nearing a return from almost 12 months on the sidelines and Devante Cole has been scarcely used this term.

Albion are thought to be in the market for more firepower in the final third in the January window.

Maja had been linked with a move away from The Hawthorns this month due to his impressive exploits this season.

The Baggies, still without a boss three weeks after Carlos Corberan's exit, had no interest in selling one of their star men. Maja has 18 months left on his deal in the Black Country.

The former Sunderland, Fulham and Bordeaux striker, who checked in as a free agent in 2023, has been one of the division's standout players this term with his goalscoring touch and all-round play. He spent almost the entirety of last season sidelined with injury.

Chelsea and Tottenham were credited with an interest over the weekend, while FA Cup opponents were also among the Premier League sides keeping tabs.