Could Josh Maja become a key player for Sunderland in the Championship this season?
Maja is just 18 years of age and operates as a forward, and the teenager’s performances in pre-season have been quite encouraging.
The youngster scored four goals in pre-season before suffering an injury against Bradford City which saw him miss the Black Cats’ final two friendly matches.
Grayson has suggested that the youngster could get chances for the Sunderland first team in the Championship this season.
“What Josh has done in pre-season, the goals, his work rate and the hold up play, it has been very good,” Grayson told The Chronicle.
“What you can’t replicate in pre-season is what it is like in the Championship and how he’s going to cope. That’ll be a situation where we’ll have to learn about him game by game.
“He and Asoro have been good in pre-season but when it comes to playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, the physical presence of these defenders, it is a different challenge.
“They’ll be around the squad but whether they play much, who knows? We might bring in players who have that little bit more than them at the moment.”
Grayson’s comments will be music to the ears of Maja, who should be proud of his performances in pre-season and should work hard for the youth sides and in training in order to earn a place in the first team as the season progresses.
The teenager is very talented and has a lot of potential, and it would be wise of the Sunderland manager to make use of him.
With Jermain Defoe, Victor Anichebe and Fabio Borini all gone, it is time for Sunderland to start giving youngsters and academy graduates chances.
Sunderland got relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and will be aiming to finish in the top six of the Championship this campaign.
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