Tony Pulis may tear up Saido Berahino script

In the immediate aftermath of an explosive transfer deadline day, the storyline ahead of this Saturday's game already appeared written.

The first visit of Tottenham to The Hawthorns since the Saido Berahino saga – which prompted the striker's now infamous strike threat and a very public war of words between Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace and his Spurs counterpart Daniel Levy – seemed odds-on for another discussion over the player's future and a further revision of the summer row.

In all likelihood and with Berahino arguably the only Albion player with a national media profile, those questions will still be asked, but presently the man himself stands a very good chance of being missing in action, at least from the first whistle.

It is now more than a month since the striker started a game and on Sunday at Upton Park he failed to even get on the pitch, with head coach Tony Pulis turning instead to Rickie Lambert with his team one down at break.

The latter's performance in those 45 minutes will have done little to aid Berahino's chances of a recall and though Pulis – who knows the funny ways in which the football fates often work – may be tempted, it is likely the 22-year-old will again have to settle for a place on the bench.

It has been a strange season on the pitch in many ways for the man who has finished the past two as Albion's top scorer.

There is no question that, when fit and on form, he represents the Baggies' brightest attacking threat and initially his return to the fold appeared to have gone smoothly.

Berahino scored crucial goals to earn wins against Villa and Sunderland, which helped Albion stay one step ahead of those clubs battling at the very bottom at a time when their own form remained wholly unconvincing.

And yet he never quite reached his peak and with Pulis preferring to play record signing Salomon Rondon in a solo role up front, Berahino has often struggled to impact games from the flanks.

In addition, the head coach has – more than once this season – commented on the striker's fitness and while his criticism of Berahino for a glaring miss against Manchester United appeared somewhat harsh, it was another indication Pulis wants to see more from a player who has been so crucial to the club these past couple of years.

Lambert's recent improvement gives the Welshman further food for thought.

The veteran striker is every inch the model professional and gave a typically-honest assessment of his Albion career to date following Sunday's draw with the Hammers.

But this is not so much about attitude, as performance. The understanding and link-up play between Lambert and Rondon was impressive and on a different level to that seen when the latter has been paired with Berahino to this point.

Whether Pulis is brave enough to start with two men up front against Spurs remains to be seen. The Baggies head coach will be without midfield anchor Claudio Yacob, a key man when they play the big guns, through suspension.

In any case, a recall for Berahino would be something of a surprise as at present, the striker is being kept out of the team on merit.