Tymon backing Maja to shine

FOOTBALL: Josh Maja will start to fly for Stoke City as he finds his way in a side bidding to end the season with a bang.

That’s the view of teammate Josh Tymon, who has seen Maja score on each of his first two starts after a deadline day switch from Bordeaux.

Maja, aged 23, is on an initial loan deal that could turn permanent in the summer and has slotted into the middle of a reshaped forward line with the hope that the best is yet to come.

Tymon said: “He’s given us a fresh outlet up front, with us changing shape as well, we are more of a 4-3-3 now. He is quick, he’s powerful, as you could see, he scored on his debut in the FA Cup last week and it was a good finish against Forest

“Credit to the manager, he hasn’t thrown him in the deep end, he’s been patient with him, he hasn’t played that much in the first half of the season, it’s about building him up, and I’m sure he’ll be flying by the end of the season.“

Stoke stuck to their guns at Forest after falling a goal behind against the run of play in the second-half. In the end they managed to get in front – and Forest were reduced to 10 men – and were disappointed to only leave with a point.

Tymon said: “It was frustrating to draw from where we were in the game. I thought we dominated the first half. We took that into the second half, and they went down to 10 men, so to concede a last minute goal like that means the lads were so frustrated in the dressing room afterwards.

“Forest went ahead but credit to the lads, we kept on playing our game. We didn’t go to the long ball game, we kept on playing out from the back. In the end, it paid off. We deserved the two goals to go in front.

“If we look at the whole week, we beat Swansea on Tuesday and dominated that game.

“And it was a tough fixture, Forest were in a good run of form.

“They were in the play-off places, so we identified this one as a tough one for ourselves.

“So it was disappointing not to come away with all three points.”

Forest are understood to be investigating incidents where objects were thrown on to the pitch, including a beer bottle towards Maja as he celebrated.

Tymon said: “As it was at a corner, I was the one further back, so I didn’t see much, but we spoke about it in the changing room afterwards.”