<
>

West Brom coach Tony Pulis worried about Saido Berahino mental burnout

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has dismissed fears over Saido Berahino's goal drought, but admitted he is worried about the striker suffering from burnout.

Berahino, 18, has failed to add to his 18 goal-tally in his last nine games ahead of Monday's visit of Premier League champions Chelsea.

The forward's last strike came in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa more than two months ago despite the Baggies sealing their top flight survival this month.

He is expected to be part of the England squad for the European Under-21 Championships this summer, and Pulis remains concerned for Berahino.

"I worry a little about him but it is not a physical burnout, it is a mental burnout as much as anything else," he said.

"He's a young lad. Brown Ideye has been injured, Victor Anichebe has been injured and we have only had three strikers this year and the kid has taken all the weight on his shoulders.

"It has been remarkable how he has handled it and the way he has done it and he deserves a hell of a lot of credit.

"I am more concerned with the amount of games he has played, even on Saturday at Newcastle we gave him a little bit of a rest.

"He is going to be playing in the Euros this summer. The lad has played and been involved in more games this year than he has ever been involved in, so it has been a little bit of a drain for him in some respects."

And Pulis is planning to adapt a preseason programme for Berahino and his other internationals so they cope with a busy summer.

"We have looked at what we have to do and what we haven't got to do and everything else," he continued. "With respect it is not just him it is the Irish lads as well, and the Scottish lads, so we will sit them down next week with regards to what we give them.

"The thing with preseason, with the games you play, if you get them involved in all the games then it's difficult. But if you just get him to train and not be involved in the games then that might be a way around it. I don't like them missing preseason."

Berahino could return against Chelsea after starting on the bench in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle last week while Pulis has no fresh injury concerns.

And the boss reiterated his belief the striker should stay at The Hawthorns despite being linked with a move.

He added: "I think the kid should stay. I have said that to him that he should stay. I think he is enjoying his football, he has enjoyed it with us, I think he has a better rapport now with everybody around the football club.

"I think he could do with another 10 years at West Bromwich Albion."