JACK ROSS admits Josh Maja has been playing through the pain barrier for Sunderland in recent weeks, but the Black Cats boss did not want to use that as an excuse for the striker’s below-par display in yesterday’s 2-0 win at Shrewsbury Town.

Maja was not at his best at Montgomery Waters Meadow, and after struggling to retain possession in a withdrawn role behind lead striker Jerome Sinclair, the teenager was withdrawn in the 54th minute, with Lynden Gooch coming on in his place.

After the game, Ross revealed that Maja has been struggling with an ankle injury for the last few weeks, and while he has been able to train, he left the pitch yesterday feeling sore.

That said, however, the Sunderland boss also feels it is inevitable the 19-year-old will experience dips in form given his lack of experience at first-team level.

Ross said: “He's had a little bit of an issue with his ankle and he missed the Checkatrade (Trophy) game. It's a little bit of a niggling one and he's trained all the time because he's that type of boy but he was a little bit sore again on Saturday.

“I'm not using that as an excuse because I don't think he played well and he would know that. There were bits of his game that he's usually better at which were untidy on Saturday and yet he still got himself into a couple of positions where normally you'd expect him to score – from his first half-chance you would think he would keep it tidier to him.

“As a 19-year-old you would expect that, you expect dips in games. But his contribution to this season has been great.

“Even without a niggling injury, to be 19 years-old and to play consecutive games has been a new experience for him.”