Thursday 17 November 2016 13:33, UK
Saido Berahino is making good progress as he bids to prove he is fit to return to action, according to West Brom boss Tony Pulis.
Berahino has not featured for the Baggies since September 10 and was sent to train in France by Pulis earlier this month in an effort to get him match fit.
The striker is now back with the club and Pulis is keen to get him involved in games.
Speaking at his press conference on Thursday morning, Pulis said: "I had a good chat with Saido yesterday, he looks brighter and sharper.
"Fitness-wise we're pleased, he's getting there. The next step is to get him some games, which we'll try and do over the next two weeks.
"He's trained this week and he's trained well but he needs games. We'll take every game as it comes. He's looked sharper, mentally a lot clearer, and let's hope he stays that way."
Pulis has questioned Berahino's advisers in the past after potential transfers to Tottenham and Stoke came to nothing.
"There's lots of good people who have spoken to him," he said on Thursday. "The most important thing is Saido unravels who has given him good advice and bad advice.
"The demands and stresses on players are there for all to see. Sometimes players get caught out, but we're all human beings, we all make mistakes.
"Saido's been a player in demand ever since I've been here from other clubs and speculation has run with it. It's been a saga.
"The most important thing is his football, he's got a God-given gift, he's got a lot of talent, and he's got to exploit that and get the best out of his talent. Over the past year or so that's not happened.
"He's got to work out why that hasn't happened and get back to playing again and enjoying football."
Salomon Rondon remains Albion's first-choice striker and he will be available for Monday's Premier League match against Burnley at The Hawthorns, live on Sky Sports.
The 27-year-old was ruled out of Venezuela's World Cup Qualifiers against Bolivia and Ecuador after the Baggies informed the Venezuelan FA that he was not fit to travel.
Rondon, who played the full 90 minutes of the Baggies' last game as they won 2-1 at Leicester City, has since been undergoing treatment and is now back to fill fitness.
Midfielder Nacer Chadli, however, faces a battle to prove his fitness ahead of the visit of the Clarets after missing the clash with the Foxes and Belgium's games against the Netherlands and Estonia with a knee injury.
Pulis said: "Chadli will be a late one. He's been out on the grass for the first time today. We won't take chances if we don't need to. Salomon Rondon will be fine."
