BERAHINO FURY AT OVERWEIGHT CLAIM

SAIDO BERAHINO is bewildered by claims he is more than half-a-stone too heavy, despite manager Tony Pulis confirming the striker has been placed on a special fitness plan. West Brom boss Pulis confirmed yesterday that Berahino has been taken out of first-team contention amid reports he is 8lb overweight. But despite Pulis’s comments, Berahino is privately disputing the accusation and is upset his professionalism has been called into question. Pulis said: ‘We’ve come to the conclusion that’s the best way forward. He’s bought into it (the training plan) and we’ll take him out of the firing line. It’s important we get him back to sharpness and fitness. The players are training hard at the beginning of the week and dropping off and then Saido is having the weekend off as well. So we’re hoping and praying that the plan will benefit him and get him back to where we want him. ‘I don’t think there’s one reason, there’s all different reasons. Saido has got too many people around him talking to him at times and gets carried away with too many different ideas and thoughts. We’ve decided this is the best way to get Saido fit, back on board and playing the way he played when I first came here.’ Berahino (left) already has a rocky relationship with Albion over his failed attempts to leave the club during the previous three transfer windows. The striker can start discussing potential free transfers with foreign clubs in January and will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.