Saido's Albion mentor hails growing maturity

Saido Berahino's West Brom mentor has hailed the striker's growing maturity as the Baggies prepare to open new contract talks with their leading scorer.

Berahino is one of three players set to be offered new deals by the Baggies, with veteran defender Gareth McAuley and midfielder Claudio Yacob also set to be rewarded by boss Tony Pulis.

And Mark Harrison, the Albion academy manager who has coached Berahino since the age of 11, reckons the 21-year-old has grown up since Pulis' arrival in January.

Harrison worked with Berahino as an academy coach, before succeeding Dan Ashworth as head of the club's youth set-up.

Harrison said: "Saido has certainly developed an understanding with Tony, although the majority of the credit has to go to Saido himself.

"In the last few months there have been times when I've spoken to him about things that are confidential, and I have said to him 'you really have grown up.'

"I think what people overlook with Saido is how desperate he is to become better as a player.

"He has all the trappings you could want now, but his motivation isn't financial, it's to become as good a player as he possibly can be."

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Berahino's current Albion contract has two years left to run but, with his transfer value rising on the back of his 20-goal season, the Baggies had always planned to try to extend it this summer.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old McAuley looks set to be offered a one-year extension when his deal expires this summer after impressing Pulis with his performances since Christmas.

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And Hawthorns officials will also speak to Yacob about a new contract, although they already have an option to extend his deal by a year when it expires at the end of the season.

Pulis must also decided whether to activate a one-year option on Youssouf Mulumbu.

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has had his three-match ban for hitting Albion's Chris Brunt with a ball on Monday reduced to one-game.

An FA regulatory commission upheld the Blues' claim that a three-game suspension was excessive.