Saido Berahino: I owe it all to Mum

But West Bromwich Albion star Saido Berahino has thanked devoted Liliane for the tongue-lashing that has helped win him an international call-up.

The 21-year-old Burundi-born Baggies forward lives with his mother and two of his three older sisters in Birmingham. And Berahino has credited Liliane with putting him back on the straight and narrow after he lost his way last season.

He was caught inhaling a legal high in a video leaked to a Sunday newspaper and was involved in a dressing-room scuffle with team-mate James Morrison last season. But he has scored seven Premier League goals this season to win a call-up for England's games against Slovenia and Scotland next week.

"You can imagine how my mum felt last season," he said. "She did not once stop talking to me. She gave me a headache at times but it worked."

Berahino is in line to become Albion's first outfield England international for 30 years after his magnificent start to the season was recognised by Roy Hodgson with a place in the latest Three Lions squad.

After a promising start to last season was derailed by off-the-field issues and allegations of a 'big-time' attitude, Baggies fans could be forgiven for fearing another brush with fame will do their goalscoring star more harm than good.

It is a worry the man himself is keen to dispel.

"One of the beauties of our job is that there is a lot of pressure," said Berahino, who lost his father as a youngster in Burundi's civil war before moving to England at the age of 10.

"Some thrive on that and some fade away. I don't feel under pressure – people put it on me but I just soak it in.

"I try to enjoy it. I am definitely mentally strong after what I have been through in life – I am a stronger person and a stronger character – nothing can be harder than that.

"People who know me know what type of person I am. I work hard and try to improve every part of my game, but I like a laugh like any youngster.

"People might look at me and see the loudness I bring to a room but I mean no harm by it, I'm just having fun.

"I don't have to change. I got to where I am because of what I'm doing.

"I can handle pressure and let my football do the talking. I think I've earned this chance.

"I've had a good start to the season and worked extremely hard to get here.

"Now I need to work even harder to take this chance with both hands."

Should he figure in the games, Berahino would become the first Albion outfield England international since Steve Hunt played as a substitute in a Wembley friendly against the Soviet Union in 1984.

And if he plays against Slovenia he will be the first outfield England player from the Baggies to appear in a competitive fixture since Bryan Robson played and scored in the infamous defeat to Norway in 1981.

But he will not be keeping hold of his coveted debut shirt should he make an appearance.

That is already earmarked for proud mum Liliane, whose loving telling-off he credits with keeping him on the straight and narrow last season when he was caught inhaling nitrous oxide and became involved in a dressing-room scuffle with team-mate James Morrison.

"My mum has got both hands on that shirt," he joked.

"You can imagine how my mum felt last season. She did not once stop talking to me.

"She gave me a headache at times but it worked.

"Now I'm in a good position because of her hard work. She's always been there and is not afraid of giving me a mouthful.

"I was in the newspaper for the wrong things last season but I always had faith I'd come through the other side. I knew it was a blip.

"I was learning about life and those experiences have made me realise who I have become, they taught me you can't lead a certain life and become a professional footballer.

"They have taught me lessons.

"From a young age mum has always said 'whatever dream you want to go for, go for it with your all and don't play up. And don't waste God's time as well'.

"It would mean a lot to me to play and it would be a way of me rewarding the club for all the hard work they've done for me from the age of 11 until now.

"It would be a great touch for them."