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Birmingham Winger Triumphs After Three Roller Coaster Years At St Andrews

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Jacques Maghoma has had an interesting three years at the club, to say the least. Having worked with Gary Rowett at Burton Albion, his move from Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 to join up with his old boss should have seen him excel.

During his first campaign at the club, there were certainly moments of inspiration, but he never provided the type of end product we were hoping for. Just two assists and five goals were nothing to write home about.

We all know what happened in his second season with us. It was a tumultuous campaign, and for Jacques in particular. Starting out as a first-team regular then effectively discarded by Gianfranco Zola, only returning to the fold under Redknapp for the run-in to stave off relegation.

The lack of stability at the club has really caused our no.19 no end of problems, and you would have thought that the three managers we’ve had this season would have seen him struggle even more.

However, it seems the rollercoaster ride that both he and the team have been through over the last couple of years has strengthened him mentally. He has been one of our most consistent performers and was deservedly named player of the season by both his fellow players and the fans.

The lack of stability has certainly caused problems for the Congolese international in the past, but no more it seems. He credits Paul Robinson as being a massive influence in helping him develop both as a footballer and as a person.

No doubt, his constant presence whilst managers left so regularly, played an important role in the 30-year-old playing far more consistently this season. And now, with Garry Monk’s arrival, he looks poised to go from strength to strength.

Mags has praised the swift transformation under the new manager in recent months:

“When you enjoy and love doing your job you do it one hundred percent. I can say they have brought that back into the training ground. You can just sense it and feel it around the stadium when you walk out now.”

That is really great to hear from the winger. No doubt, the switch to 4-4-2 under the current boss has played a big role. From the left or the right, he has options up front to play off and provide goals for.

Certainly, he will be hoping after settling in during his first year, followed by two disruptive campaigns, he can take another step forward in a fourth season which will likely be more tranquil by comparison.

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