Sunderland boss Jack Ross praises Josh Maja progress

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Josh Maja has established himself as an important player for Jack Ross’s Sunderland.

Sunderland manager Jack Ross has spoken highly of Josh Maja to The Northern Echo.

Ross, who was appointed the Sunderland manager in the summer, has hailed the progress made by Maja.

The former St. Mirren manager has said that the 19-year-old forward has proved that he is good enough to be considered a first-team footballer.

Ross told The Northern Echo about Maja: “I know he’s had a taste of it prior to this season, but this season is really the first time he’s had to face it week in, week out and he should take an enormous amount of pride and confidence out of how he’s responded to that.

“He’s shown, ‘I can deal with that. I’m a first-team footballer, and I can deal with the pressures of first-team football at a club of this size’.

“I have no doubts he’ll continue to produce what he’s doing, and I think he’ll get better. I think the team will get better, and I think he’ll get better too.”

Josh Maja progress

Maja has been at Sunderland since 2015 and has progressed to the first team for the former Premier League outfit.

The 19-year-old has established himself as an important player for the Black Cats and is playing well for the League One club at the moment.

The teenage forward made six starts and 11 substitute appearances in the Championship for Sunderland last season, scoring one goal in the process, according to WhoScored.

So far this season, Maja has scored seven goals and provided one assist in nine League One matches for the Black Cats, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.

Bryan Oviedo reaction

Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Ross has revealed Bryan Oviedo’s reaction to being dropped from the starting lineup to the substitutes’ bench for the League One match against Rochdale at the Stadium of Light this past weekend.

Ross told The Northern Echo: “Bryan’s reaction was disappointment, but in terms of professionalism, he was fine, and I think you saw that when he came on.”