Maja on way to breaking Cats goal records

STRIKER Josh Maja has become the first player in 91 years to score in the opening four league games – although he will have to continue his rich vein of form if he is to break the record.

Maja netted the Black Cats’ fourth in their 4-1 victory over Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium as Jack Ross’ side maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Not since the 1927-28 season has any Sunderland striker started a season in such fine form.

Back then it was Scottish striker David Halliday netting the goals for the Rokerites. In the old Division One, Halliday notched in the first eight games, in a run which included two braces and a hat-trick.

Halliday was a well-established 29-year-old by the time he managed the feat – which remains a club record to this day.

Kevin Phillips managed to score in five consecutive league games back in 1998-99 - but that was not during the first five games.

Maja, 19, will do well to go and match, or even beat, Halliday’s record – particularly with big summer signing Charlie Wyke moving ever closer to regaining fitness. His form will be without doubt causing Ross a huge selection headache when the ex-Bradford City man is back.

Maja would no doubt love to come even slightly close to emulating Halliday’s Wearside exploits.

The big Scot spent four seasons with Sunderland after signing from Dundee in 1920. It took him just 101 games in red and white to score 100 goals, and in 1928-29 he scored 42 goals in 43 games – the club’s highest ever scorer in a season.

He was top scorer in every season he played at the club and no Sunderland player since has managed to score as many goals in a single season as Halliday did in his least prolific campaign (in the 1927-28 season he managed ‘just’ 35 goals). Maja might struggle to match Halliday’s 91-year-old Sunderland record but, regardless, has still had a terrific start to the

campaign.