Saido Berahino bound for glory at Baggies

Boss Alan Irvine believes Saido Berahino can become West Brom's main man up front – once he moves to his best position.

The Hawthorns head coach is keen to switch the England Under-21 man to a central striking role when his new wingers are fit to start.

And he believes the home-grown goal poacher has what it takes to be a major Premier League hit.

Berahino has started the season well wide on the right in a 4-3-3 formation but Irvine, who is waiting for summer signings Silvestre Varela and Sebastian Blanco to reach full fitness, said: "I think Saido's best position is playing through the middle.

"He's got good movement, he receives the ball well and he understands positionally where he should be when we don't have the ball.

"And he's got a real desire to work hard and to continue to learn.

"I certainly think he can be that main front man.

"He finishes well with either foot and he is one of the players we've got in mind as being one of our strikers.

"The shame about it to some extent so far is that we've had to play him wider because we haven't had alternatives.

"That's something we're getting closer to having now and that will hopefully mean we can play all of our players in the places they want to play.

"Full credit to the lads, they have played where they've been asked to play and done it to the best of their ability, but there's no doubt that you want to have a team of players playing where they should be playing."

Berahino has received praise from England Under-21s boss Gareth Southgate for learning lessons from last season, when his form tailed off around the time he was involved in a dressing-room bust-up and a national newspaper obtained a video of him inhaling a 'legal high'.

Irvine said: "He has come in as a young player into a team where maybe there were problems last year.

"I have to say all I've seen is a very mature lad who is a thoroughly good professional and I have been delighted with him."

"I am excited about the future for Saido. I think he could be a top player."

"I've not had to speak to him about behaviour and habits because I have only seen a player who has been a model professional, who stays out on the training ground after every single session, who trains really well and who does it with a smile on his face."