Sunderland fans may be excited for upcoming Tony Mowbray reunion, but there’s one former star they’ll be glad not to see

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Sunderland are gearing up for another reunion with former fan-favourite boss Tony Mowbray in the upcoming trip to West Brom.

Regis Le Bris’ side returned to winning ways after the international break as Sunderland beat Millwall 1-0.  It was a positive display overall against the Lions, with Trai Hume and an ‘outstanding’ Patrick Roberts particularly on-form for the Black Cats. 

Although Le Bris’ side were not back to their dynamic best against Millwall, with Jobe Bellingham admitting Sunderland want their ‘fluidity’ back, the win saw them remain firmly in fourth place.

Attention now turns to this weekend’s fixture against former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray’s West Brom, who currently sit sixth in the Championship table, next up.

Ahead of the game, former Sunderland fan-favourite Mowbray has revealed some crucial injury news that could prove decisive on Saturday. 

• READ MORE: Early predicted XI for Sunderland’s upcoming clash against West Brom

Former Sunderland striker Josh Maja sidelined for reunion

Former Sunderland striker Josh Maja will not be fit to face his former side this weekend as the Baggies forward remains hampered by a leg injury.

Academy of Light graduate Maja has notched 12 goals for West Brom so far this term, level on goals with misfiring Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, and will not return to face the Black Cats. 

As reported by the Express and Star, Mowbray revealed: “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.

“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. I think he’s looking forward to getting back and showing us what he can do. I know his talent. We obviously would like more goals in our team and Maja would probably bring that.

“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.”

The last time Maja returned to the Stadium of Light, following his shock move to Bordeaux amidst the Black Cats’ 2018/19 League One campaign, he was sidelined for four months last season following a crunching Dan Ballard challenge in the 2-1 win.

Ballard wished Maja well after the Nigerian’s first Baggies start ended in injury heartache after the Stadium of Light crowd clapped injured Maja off the field despite his dubious departure.

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Josh Maja was on track to become a Sunderland hero

Maja’s departure from Sunderland was captured by the infamous Sunderland ‘Til I Die Netflix documentary. 

Academy ace Maja cemented himself as a first-team star for Sunderland during the League One campaign in 2018/19, with the forward’s breakout campaign propelling the Black Cats towards a Championship return under Jack Ross.

After finding the net 15 times in just 24 League One appearances by the January window, Maja controversially departed Sunderland with only months left on his current contract, for then-French top flight outfit Bordeaux.

Then-Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald was adamant in the Netflix series that Maja was offered multiple extended terms by Sunderland, with Maja’s representatives favouring a foreign move for the youngster.

Maja’s most prolific campaign to date came years later with Bordeaux in Ligue 2, firing 17 goals with six assists.

The forward’s arrival at The Hawthorns has been hampered by persistent injury struggles and as such the former Sunderland striker will miss this weekend’s top-six Championship clash.

26-year-old Maja was adored by the Sunderland faithful for his prolific finishing in the 12-yard-box. That 2018/19 season ended in heartache as the Black Cats were beaten by Charlton in the play-off final, with misfiring Will Grigg leading the line, who was signed by Donald in an attempt to replace Maja’s goals.

If the former Sunderland star stayed until the end of that term, then Sunderland’s and Maja’s footballing futures could’ve been dramatically different today.