Albion's Saido Berahino given warning by Tony Pulis

Head coach Tony Pulis wants to build his Albion team around Saido Berahino – after laying down the law to the controversial young striker.

Pulis held a meeting with Berahino this week and urged the 21-year-old not to waste his talent after a series of off-field scrapes blighted his first two seasons in the first team.

But Pulis is keen to keep the forward despite rumours of big-money interest, saying he had been "a pleasure" to work with – and believes he could make the England Under-21s man the main man in his new team.

"He's got a clean slate with me," said Pulis. "I've just come through the door.

"I've been very, very impressed with his training. He's worked very hard, he's technically a very good player.

"He's got his whole footballing career in front of him, he's been given a gift by God and he's very fortunate.

"He has to understand and recognise that to be a professional athlete, and a good professional athlete, you have to be disciplined, and that's mostly the way our conversation went.

"He's got wonderful balance, and if you look at the top players, they have that – they can shift their feet very quickly and adjust when the ball comes to them, that's a natural gift he's got. He's very clinical when he gets in front of goal.

"He's got a great future in front of him; the most important thing is he recognises and realises he's been given a gift and he makes the most of that.

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"He knows where my office is. I want the players to focus on the football and let me do the worrying."

Asked whether he could build his team around Berahino, Pulis said: "Oh, yeah. He's a goalscorer.

"When he arrives in the box he's got a knack of getting in there late. He's got the technical ability."

The Albion head coach admitted a huge offer could tempt the Baggies to sell, but insisted he has no desire to offload the 21-year-old.

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"We'd like to keep him," said Pulis. "If you are asking me whether I want to sell him now, not at all because he has been absolutely first-class.

"We've had no offers for Saido. He is scoring goals and been a pleasure to work with.

"He has been the last on the training ground every morning been doing extra work with Kempy (Dave Kemp) and Jewelly (Paul Jewell).

"The important thing is we have to make sure he has a clear mind when he goes on the football pitch."