Baggies put their faith (and their cash) in troubled Berahino PULIS EXCITED BY NEW DEAL OFFER FOR UNSETTLED SAIDO

TONY PULIS reckons troubled striker Saido Berahino could be like a new £30million signing in January – if he can slay his demons.

In an incredible show of faith in the 23-year-old, Baggies chairman John Williams is trying to convince Berahino to pen a new longterm contract despite a string of problems.

Berahino returned last week from a solo French training camp after admitting depression.

His Albion contract expires this summer and he has not played for the club for three months.

In August last year he said he would never play for then chairman Jeremy Peace again after being denied a move to Tottenham.

The Burundi-born player was pictured inhaling laughing gas in April 2014, and admitted drink-driving in January 2015.

But Pulis has not lost faith in the ability of Berahino, who scored 20 goals in 2014-2015 and earned an England callup.

He plans to give him games for Albion’s Under-23s, who play Liverpool away tonight, to sharpen up for first-team contention.

Pulis revealed: “I believe John is still desperate to get the kid signed.

“The true happy ending would be for him to sign a new contract and we get him to the level he was when I first came to the football club.

“That was when we made the kid happy and he made us happy by scoring 20 goals a season.

“He looks much clearer in his mind and has that sparkle back in his eyes.

“I think he has come back a lot more focused.

“If he comes back the way he was, he would be a like a new signing worth £30m.”

Pulis admits things could have been handled differently when Albion abruptly rejected interest from Spurs in late August 2015.

It sent Berahino into meltdown and he petulantly tweeted he would never play for Peace again.

Pulis said: “If you look back to the offer from Tottenham, lots of things could have been done differently. But what has happened has happened and we have to deal with it.”

Berahino has occasionally flickered since then but has never really looked the same player.

He has struggled to keep his weight down and failed to nail down a first-team place amid criticism of his attitude.

Now Pulis is hoping Berahino can emulate top pros at the Hawthorns like former Manchester United star Darren Fletcher.

“The onus is on Saido,” added Pulis. “If you look at the top players we have at this football club, the way they prepare for games and for training is fantastic.

“I put Fletcher up there as one of the best pros I have worked with. He is a great example and role model.”

Berahino did not make Albion’s match-day squad for their 3-1 win against Watford at the weekend.

Pulis explained why he is reluctant to throw the starlet straight back in.

He said: “What we don’t want, given all the work he has put in, is for him to come back and pick up another injury.

“Physically he is lacking in match fitness but his mind is a lot clearer.

“As soon as we see him in games and see what he is like fitness-wise, then we can let him loose.”