West Bromwich(WBA) vs Stoke City - Saido Berahino could start for West Brom

Posted Friday, January 01, 2016 by PA

West Brom boss Tony Pulis insists Saido Berahino has improved his behaviour after he was warned about his attitude.

The striker could now start against Stoke on Saturday after Pulis claimed he was lucky to be on the bench for Monday's 1-0 win over Newcastle.

He was a substitute for the eighth straight game as Pulis hinted at behind-the-scenes troubles.

Berahino's time-keeping is understood to have been a problem in the past and it has been his general attitude which Pulis has taken issue with, not any specific flashpoint, but the boss has drawn a line under it.

"It's got nothing to do with anybody apart from me and Saido," Pulis said.

"He's trained well this week, he's been in on time and he's done everything that everyone else has done.

"He just lapses, it's not because he's a bad lad or anything. It's just the way he is, it's just him growing up and recognising it's about the group, about the team, and the football club.

"That's all done and dusted, we've moved on from that.

"The kid came on and did really well for 30 minutes (against Newcastle) and he's got a great chance of playing on Saturday."

Berahino has scored just three goals this season after threatening to strike on deadline day when the Baggies rejected two bids from Tottenham.

West Brom are braced for further interest from Spurs in the transfer window after they rejected four offers in total in the summer.

Any deal will have to be significantly better business for the Baggies with the previous bids based around clauses and Tottenham's final amount rising to B£23million in several stages.

And Pulis reiterated Albion's stance on selling the 22-year-old.

"I was asked that question two (transfer) windows ago and I said exactly the same," he told a press conference. "The club would love to keep him."

Salomon Rondon and James McClean remain banned for the Baggies and the club will assess Jonas Olsson and Victor Anichebe (both hamstring) ahead of the visit of Stoke.

Meanwhile, Stoke boss Mark Hughes admits his side are currently ahead of target this term and is not dismissing talk of a push for the top four.

In a hugely unpredictable Barclays Premier League season that, at the half way stage, sees Leicester level on points with leaders Arsenal and champions Chelsea only three above the relegation zone, the Potters are shaping up well.

Monday's 4-3 victory at Everton was their third win in five league games - the others came against Manchester City and Manchester United - and they are finishing 2015 only two points off fifth place.

Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who netted twice against Everton, has been quoted this week suggesting a challenge for a Champions League spot is not out of the question.

And when that was put to Hughes at his press conference to preview Saturday's trip to the Hawthorns, he said: "Who knows in this season?

"Whether this is a sign of things to come and a changing of the order, I'm not too sure.

"But it is fantastic to see the likes of Leicester up there, and ourselves - we are trying to have a go.

"Crystal Palace, West Ham, teams like that - we are in the top half, and we are there on merit.

"All teams such as ourselves are going into games thinking we will back our ability against anybody and see how far it takes us.

"Up to this point we have been really encouraged by what we have produced and we just have to keep it going.

"We know we can beat anyone in this league, although there are a lot of teams who will say exactly the same.

"So it is about having that consistency, and if we can get that, who knows where we can go?"

Hughes, whose two seasons at Stoke so far have seen him guide them to back-to-back ninth-placed finishes, added: "We had targets before the season, and we're above where we thought we would be at this stage.

"That is encouraging, and the second half of seasons have been strong for us, so we are looking forward to 2016."