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West Brom strikers out of international duty

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West Brom today confirmed both Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye have been withdrawn from international duty because of injury.

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The Baggies contacted both the England and Nigeria football associations over the weekend to inform them of the players' withdrawal.

Ideye was unable to figure in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City because of a knee problem while Berahino, who has been playing despite ankle difficulties, had to be substituted late in the game.

Now head coach Tony Pulis has insisted both players use the two-week international break to recover from their injuries.

He said: "The two lads have done brilliantly for us in recent weeks. I cannot praise them highly enough.

"Everyone knows we are short on numbers up front and we have had to press the two of them into battle.

"It has not been ideal but they have taken it on without complaint. Their attitude has been first class.

"The last thing we wanted to do was stop them playing for their countries. They both desperately wanted to.

"Brown has worked really hard to get back into the Nigeria selection and Saido loves playing for England.

"But sometimes you have to protect the lads from themselves. They simply were not fit enough to take on the prospect of two more games.

"They need to recover from their injuries. I felt I had to act in the best interests of West Bromwich Albion and the players themselves."

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