West Brom's Saido Berahino Deserves England Chance

With England having kicked off their Euro 2016 qualification campaign with an impressive victory away to Switzerland, manager Roy Hodgson might not be all that keen to tinker with what worked in Basel on September 8.

But at least one uncapped player will have no doubt caught his eye in recent weeks: West Bromich Albion’s Saido Berahino.

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Following up his goal-scoring performance in the Baggies’ Capital One Cup win at home to Hull on Wednesday with a brace against Burnley on Sunday, the 21-year-old was hailed by Alan Irvine as an England option ahead of upcoming encounters with San Marino and Estonia.

“That’ll certainly make [Roy] Hodgson think about him,” remarked the West Brom boss, according to The Telegraph. “If he keeps on playing like that and he keeps on scoring goals, he’ll get all those rewards.”

Incidentally, Three Lions coaches Ray Lewington and Gary Neville were on hand to watch the 4-0 thrashing of Burnley at The Hawthorns, and they will have no doubt been impressed by both Berahino’s first-half header and second-half finish inside the far post.

The pair of goals installed the Under-21 international as the top English scorer in the Premier League and also made him the division’s only player aged 21 or younger with at least four tallies to his name so far this season.

A good finisher with impressive aerial prowess for his height, Berahino is also adept at operating from either flank—flexibility that only enhances his value to a forward line.

Of course, Hodgson would have to forgive, or at least overlook, some of Berahino’s previous antics, which include a high-profile dressing room row and the inhalation of “hippy crack,” following a loss last season.

The attacker, for his part, insists his previous immaturity is long behind him.

“I’ve grown up 100 per cent since last season,” he said in the run-up to Sunday’s match, as per the Mirror. “The first day [Irvine] was in charge he had a chat with me and made it clear his door would always be open.”

Added Irvine to The Telegraph: “I know people have talked about his problems in the past. I haven’t seen a moment of that. He’s been a pleasure to work with.”

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And a pleasure to have at West Brom, who with Sunday’s win are now 10th in the table—level on points with seventh-place Manchester United.

Hodgson has already shown a willingness to bring through an up-and-coming generation of England internationals, and the next player who deserves his call-up is Berahino.

Based solely on his play this term, his inclusion should be automatic.

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