Albion boss Alan Irvine stands firm over Berahino

Berahino has hit six league goals this term to establish himself as Irvine's first-choice centre-forward ahead of record £10m signing Brown Ideye.

He has started all eight of the club's Premier League games but Irvine has played down talk of tiredness – a hot topic after Liverpool's Raheem Sterling complained of fatigue while on England duty.

"I don't believe Saido will burn out," said Irvine. "Players in the Football League are playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday and they keep doing it.

"Saido has played more than anyone else here but he is young and full of energy and in a great place mentally.

"If we start speaking to him about needing a rest he might need a rest!"

Berahino's form has led to inevitable speculation about a possible January move but Irvine has backed the 21-year-old to keep his feet on the ground.

The Scot said: "I think Saido has the maturity to realise if he keeps doing what he does he will make progress here and all sorts of things will open up at international and club level."

"If he keeps doing this he will become a top striker and anything can happen."

Meanwhile, Ideye is poised to be among the substitutes again against Crystal Palace tomorrow after Berahino's form made it impossible for the £10m Nigerian to win an immediate recall following his recovery from an ankle injury.

Irvine said: "I said at the time we had to play Brown earlier in the season that it was a shame for him because he wasn't ready.

"I feel it was extremely unfortunate that he had to be thrown in the deep end too soon, but we didn't have any alternatives.

"He is closer but Saido is going to be a hard act to follow and right at this moment he is in possession of that position."