MX23RW : Monday, December 23 18:46:03| >> :120:71094:71094:

Mark Hughes vows to get Saido Berahino "back on track"

Mark Hughes is confident that the Saido Berahino of old will emerge at Stoke City once he reaches peak fitness, having ended two years of uncertainty over his future.

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has insisted that "outstanding" talent Saido Berahino has joined the right club to turn his career around.

The 23-year-old ended two years of uncertainty over his future on Friday evening by joining the Potters from West Bromwich Albion in a £15m deal.

Berahino has seen his career stagnate at The Hawthorns under Tony Pulis, having not featured at all in the first-team squad since October, and he departed the West Midlands with some strong words from his former manager.

Hughes is now hoping to get his new forward back up to speed following his stint in a French fitness camp earlier in the season, but is unsure when he will be integrated into the starting lineup.

"We are delighted with [the signing]," he told reporters. "The platform we will give him will allow him to get back on track. He's obviously stalled for the last 18 months, but he's an outstanding player.

"We know where he needs to be in terms of fitness, but we will turn that around. He isn't going to start games anytime soon, but he can have an impact. He's not unfit, but he's not match fit.

"He plays off the shoulder and more often than not if he gets chances he will take them. We think we will get him back on track and he will be a good player for a long time."

Berahino scored 23 league goals in 105 appearances for the Baggies

ID:290047: cacheID:290047:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2752:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Saido Berahino sits on the bench prior to the game between West Brom and Stoke on January 2, 2016
Read Next:
Pulis: 'Berahino needs to get act together'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!