What are West Brom's options in the wake of Josh Maja's injury hammer blow?

Top goalscorer Maja, 26, will spend several weeks on the sidelines after surgery to his lower leg this week.

Maja has enjoyed an exceptional season leading the line for the Baggies but a lack of competition and depth in his position has led to a struggle to ease his load.

He was uninvolved in the FA Cup at Bournemouth last weekend and scans this week revealed a more serious injury than initially feared.

We assess some of Albion's options to spearhead the attack for the games and weeks ahead.

Karlan Grant

Grant is clearly at the front of the short queue to replace Maja in leading the Albion line - for the short term, at least.

Grant and Devante Cole are the only current senior options available whose natural game is to play highest, though Grant was very often used from the left under former boss Carlos Corberan.

Grant has enjoyed a wonderful season for Albion. His recovery at The Hawthorns has been a great renaissance story after a loan at Cardiff.

Before that the former Huddersfield man had clearly become dispensable. The forward had for the last few months been playing up front alongside Maja in a 4-4-2, though his hybrid position did allow to move freely out towards the left.

Should Grant be selected to lead the line alone it would require a formation switch, to either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, which are much of a muchness.

Grant has shown this season he is up to the challenge and can be relied on, which is credit to him. His game is totally different to Maja’s, though, and he thrives more in running behind.

It must be remembered he recently missed a fixture around Christmas owing to muscle discomfort.

Devante Cole

Albion’s other fit natural forward option is more of a traditional centre-forward but has been unable to find any sort of breakthrough in his debut season at The Hawthorns.

Cole, the free signing from League One Barnsley last summer, has been on the periphery all season.

Corberan as good as admitted the striker was signed as an extra body for squad cover. Corberan was clearly reluctant to use Cole for any sort of significant length.

He will have made that decision from watching training, one presumes.

Now could be Cole’s opportunity. It may be the only real chance he gets this season. His brightest cameo was at Luton in the Friday night draw a few months ago.

Minutes since have been minimal and uneventful. It has not worked yet.

The Maja blow has opened the door, but Cole would have to surprise a few to take advantage.  

Daryl Dike

The United States international frontman is not far off 12 months sidelined since he last kicked a ball competitively.

It is impossible to put any expectation or stock in the idea Dike will come back as a regular and reliable starter for Albion. But it could happen.

The last update from interim boss Chris Brunt on the luckless striker was last Friday, before the Bournemouth tie, where it was suggested with any luck Dike could be in a better place for his return in a couple of weeks.

Pessimistic Baggies may roll their eyes at the prospect of Dike returning but the reality is he is an important squad option when fit.

There is emphasis on the ‘when fit’ part there - seldom has any Albion player had such rotten injury fortune. Some supporters, perhaps understandably, don’t know whether Dike will ever be able to put together a run of regular games without serious injury.

Albion still hope he can - and it feels like now or never for the American. 

'False nines'

It might be decided for a throwback to last season, where Albion went the odd game without a natural striker.

With former frontman Brandon Thomas-Asante flogged into the ground with no back-up and eventually given a breather, the Baggies’ frontline took a more unorthodox route.

More often than not it would be captain Jed Wallace running the line. He brought energy and work rate to the role and would press as much as possible but it was a tough period for Albion and Wallace. 

The skipper has been limited to three league starts this season. Grady Diangana also had the odd occasion in the lone role.

These were not popular with supporters who would clearly much rather see a natural striker played in the position.

But at times last term the former management were limited in what they could do.

The Baggies must hope they do not get to a point where this option becomes relied upon with nowhere else to go.

Window desperation

Albion entered the transfer window needing to bolster their frontline and the cruel Maja setback has clearly increased that necessity.

The Baggies have yet to conduct any incoming business beyond bringing back Caleb Taylor to shore up options in the defensive area.

That can allow director of football operations Ian Pearce - as well as the new manager when they check in - to focus on attacking areas.

It begs the question whether Maja’s setback could mean two strikers on the radar.

Albion may opt against that though, given the top scorer should return in March, by which point Dike should be fit as well as Grant.

One addition in the forward line should be enough for the squad to cope. That player must be spot-on, though, and capable to come into the squad and make a difference.

There is not necessarily a limit on where Albion are shopping. As it has been in previous windows, a loan is not necessarily the only option, though there are several enticing options when it comes to young strikers, or those not getting enough game time, in the Premier League.

Albion can spend within reason if required. But the likelihood of that right player available this window is not a given. January is a notoriously difficult market for permanent deals.

It will be interesting to see if club chiefs consider the continent again. Lewis Dobbin was recalled by Villa, leaving Albion a body light in wide areas. A versatile option may also be considered.