'Last season was a tough year for me' - West Brom star's admission as tide turns

West Brom Josh Maja has been nominated for a player of the month award

Star striker Josh Maja has been nominated for a player of the month award for the second successive time as his prolific start to the season continues.

The West Bromwich Albion forward has picked up where he left off in September and has been nominated for the PFA Championship Fans’ Player of the Month after a Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month nomination for August which was eventually won by Oxford's Mark Harris.

Maja, 25, is up for the September gong alongside Sheffield United pair Gus Hamer and Michael Cooper, Norwich’s Borja Sainz, Burnley’s Josh Brownhill and Blackburn’s Lewis Travis.

Whilst Albion’s form has tailed off slightly, Maja’s has not with seven goals and an assist in nine games so far including a hat trick on opening day at QPR.

During September he scored in the 3 2 loss at Sheffield Wednesday and the wins over Plymouth and Portsmouth.

He remains Championship top goalscorer, level with Sainz.

While Carlos Corberan has rotated his options on the wing with the likes of Tom Fellows, Jed Wallace, Karlan Grant, Mikey Johnston and Grady Diangana at his disposal, Maja has been his main man down the middle and he has repaid his faith and all the hard work during an injury ravaged season last time around. He has stepped up and taken over from Brandon Thomas-Asante after his move to Coventry with Daryl Dike still injured.

Speaking on his form, Maja said: "I’m really happy to score and be available, especially because last season was a tough year for me.

“I’m fit and available, which is a blessing. Hopefully there are many more goals and wins to come.

“It’s really pleasing to be able to show the fans what I can do and it was a pleasure to be out there. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the gaffer and to my team-mates and to the staff who have helped me stay connected with the group especially after last season.

"The lads were buzzing for me. They know what I have been through over the last year and they were pleased to see me in the starting line up first and foremost and getting my goals as a reward of my hard work. I hope this is the start of something special. I thrive off goals and confidence."

Alex Mowatt could consider himself unlucky not to be nominated too after consistent displays which saw him net twice in a man of the match display at Portsmouth, including a beautiful free kick, and a goal off the bench to start a comeback at Hillsborough.

You can vote for the winner at https://www.thepfa.com/fpotm/championship