Express & Star

West Brom youngster Saido Berahino hoping for cup success

By
Published
Last updated

Young gun Saido Berahino today urged Albion to emulate Swansea's heroics as he prepared to continue his Capital One Cup adventure at The Hawthorns tonight.

moreBerahino, who bagged a dream second-round hat-trick against Newport County on his full Baggies debut, is expected to figure in round three against Arsenal tonight (8pm).

And the 20-year-old said Steve Clarke's men have their sights on replicating the Swans, who won the competition last season to book a place in Europe.

"Regardless of what team they put out, Arsenal have got top players and it's going to be a really big game," said Berahino.

"But we have been preparing since Sunday after the win against Sunderland and we're ready for it.

"The gaffer's message from day one has been that he wants us to keep going in the cup.

"He says if Swansea did it, why can't we do it?

"And the players want it as well. We want to get to the final and hopefully win it.

"But we just have to focus on every match and it's Arsenal next, so we have to focus on Arsenal and hopefully after the game we will be the winners."

Berahino's hat-trick against Newport triggered a remarkable month that saw him net twice in two games for England Under-21s and make his Premier League debut.

But he insists he has now moved on from his second-round heroics.

"It was a great evening," he said. "I thanked God and my whole family for being there for me from day one. But that's the past now for me and I'm just looking forward to every new challenge that comes every day. It's great that the gaffer has faith in me and I thank him a lot and now it's up to me to take every opportunity that comes my way.I have learned a lot in the last few weeks. I am training day in, day out with the best players at the club and they're really good to me.

"They give me lots of advice and I'm just taking in as much as I can this season. It's great for me to get an opportunity because that's what every youngster wants.

"And it shows there are doors for all the other youngsters in our academy if they put the work in."