After ‘antagonising’ West Brom with Spurs flirtation, Saido Berahino faces ‘difficult’ reintegration

Saido Berahino 'will play for West Brom again' says manager Tony Pulis, but 'it will be difficult to integrate Saido into this group ... respect has to be earned'.

West Brom forward Saido Berahino shown during a Premier League match against Newcastle last season. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP / May 9, 2015

Tony Pulis will welcome Saido Berahino back into his West Bromwich Albion squad – but will do so with some strong words for the controversial striker.

Berahino was the subject of several bids from Tottenham Hotspur during the transfer window and attempted to force through a move, first by submitting a transfer request and then with a tweet in which he threatened “I can officially say I will never play (for club chairman) Jeremy Peace”.

He was granted a period of leave – during which he won few friends by tweeting a picture of himself on a private jet – but is due to return to training on Monday and manager Pulis then plans to speak to the player and his mother over dinner.

Pulis has not selected Berahino since August 15’s draw with Watford due to concerns over the 22-year-old’s state of mind.

He now faces the difficult task of reintegrating a player who appeared more than ready to burn his bridges and – while he accepts Berahino’s desire to develop at the top level – he admits the striker will have to work hard to win over both teammates and fans.

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Pulis told the Daily Mail: "Saido's problem has been how he he's gone about it. I spoke to Saido and told him not to get involved in anything else but football, but again, unfortunately, he didn't listen. By handing in a transfer request, he only antagonised the whole situation.

“Respect has to be earned and Saido has to learn that lesson. West Brom have nurtured Saido’s career for over a decade, they deserve the utmost respect and at times unwillingly he has shown them little. He has to grow up and wise up to the fact that people at West Brom have supported him right from the beginning of his career.

“It will be difficult to integrate Saido into this group. His attitude will be questioned. The supporters will also be looking for a player who wears their badge with commitment and honesty, they will want to see Saido showing the respect they deserve.”

Regardless of those difficulties, Pulis is adamant Berahino’s threat to down tools will not come to pass and that his differences with Peace are separate from footballing concerns.

“His gripe is with Jeremy – as far as I’m concerned, he will play for West Brom again,” he said.

“I don’t think he will talk to Jeremy. The problem is that he thinks he is being used.

“If you look at the club, Jeremy has sold players when it has suited him. Look at Shane Long, he sold him,” – to Hull last January – “at a time when the club was left without a recognised forward. I think Saido thinks (Peace) is just looking at finances all the time.”

Berahino scored 14 Premier League goals, and 20 in all competitions, last season but has played just twice so far in the new campaign, without finding the net.

He earned his first call-up to the senior England squad in November for games against Slovenia and Scotland.

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