Tony Pulis hopes Saido Berahino can find form as Spurs visit reopens speculation
Tony Pulis believes West Brom have been missing the real Saido Berahino for six months.
The striker could face Tottenham on Saturday for the first time since threatening to go on strike in the summer after Spurs had four bids rejected.
He has been benched for the last three Barclays Premier League games after a dip in form and has netted just three times this season.
The Baggies rejected two offers from Spurs on deadline day - the last rising to B#23million with several clauses - after he scored 20 goals last season and, ahead of their Hawthorns visit, Pulis is still waiting for Berahino to regain his form.
He said: "If you look at last season the most influential player at the club was Saido. He got the goals which got us the points which kept us in the league. This year we haven't had that.
"For six months we've played with Saido being nowhere near as good as he was last year. It was disappointing in lots of ways. I'm not blaming Saido, not anyone, it's just fact.
"There's no question Saido was disappointed the deal never went through. There are people in the game who can handle it, there are people who can't.
"He's an outstanding player and talent but we haven't had that at the same level as we did last year.
"I'm not saying we can't get him back but we haven't got him back to the same level.
"The problem is the window is coming around again and they'll be all the speculation."
Berahino was also dropped for three games earlier in the season as Pulis felt he was not in the right frame of mind to cope with the spotlight.
Spurs have again been linked with a move for the 22-year-old next month but Pulis insisted Berahino is better off at the Baggies.
"He has to get as fit as he was last year and wash everything else away. He has been given a God-given talent but in the last six months he has not fulfilled the potential," he said.
"He needs to get back to that for his own sake. The best place to do it is here.
"I don't want to get into asking prices and whether he is for sale or not. I'm not interested."
Meanwhile, Pulis is without the banned Claudio Yacob against Spurs while Ben Foster continues to be out with a long-term knee injury.
Mauricio Pochettino has welcomed talk of Tottenham as title contenders this season as he believes it pays tribute to his team's performances.
Unbeaten since the opening day of the campaign, Spurs are fifth in the table and only four points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Pochettino's side have already played every team in the top six and their fixtures in December look kind, with West Brom, Newcastle, Southampton, Norwich and Watford to come before the end of the year.
Tottenham's priority is to secure Champions League football next season but as the more established challengers continue to stumble, there may be an opportunity to aim even higher.
"If the people believe we are contenders I am happy because (it means) we have shown enough quality for that," Pochettino said.
"Agree or not agree we want to win the next game and take the three points.
"I always believe in my squad and my players. I believe we can win."
West Brom demonstrated their threat by beating Arsenal 2-1 at home two weeks ago.
"We will expect a very tough game. They are a very strong team, have a great manager. I have a great relationship with Tony," Pochettino said.
"We have to run a lot, play well with and without the ball to make a big effort to win the game."
Source: PAR
