Sunday 31 January 2016 13:30, UK
West Brom boss Tony Pulis talked up Saido Berahino's goalscoring prowess, amid interest in the striker ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline.
Tottenham and Newcastle have been linked with Berahino but unless a substantial offer comes in before the deadline Albion have no intention of cashing in, it is understood.
Berahino scored twice in a 2-2 FA Cup fourth-round draw with Peterborough on his first start since October and Pulis took the opportunity to praise the striker's "wonderful ability".
Pulis said: "When you put Saido in front of goal, he's a goalscorer. His sharpness is nowhere near what it was last year and you can see that as much as I can. Not playing football certainly knocks your fitness and sharpness but one thing you certainly can't take away from the kid is calmness in front of goal.
"He has that wonderful, wonderful ability to put the ball in the back of the net."
Asked about Berahino's future, Pulis said: "There's two more days to wait. The chairman will make the decisions on the financial matters and that's really what it boils down to. I think football-wise, everyone would want to keep Saido here."
Berahino's second (84) looked to have sent Pulis's men through at the first attempt but Jon Taylor found the bottom corner of the net with a shot from the edge of the area in the 86th minute to force a replay.
Pulis said: "It's disappointing but that's cup football. We led twice and the longer the game goes on then it only takes one mistake to bring them back into it. Obviously then Bo and Poco have left it for one another from a long ball and their man has stepped in.
"I don't want to give any discredit to Peterborough, they were brilliant and worked hard and kept going, but I didn't really have my heart in my mouth at all. We've been undone by two long, diagonal balls.
"When Saido scores the second one, that should be the end of it."
Peterborough boss Graham Westley is no stranger to cup upsets and hopes his latest will stand his young team in good stead for the remainder of the season.
Westley, who sprung a surprise at Darlington with Farnborough in 2003 and five years ago masterminded Stevenage's shock win against Newcastle, thinks the draw at The Hawthorns will give his players confidence.
"It's right up there (with the Darlington and Newcastle games) right now," said Westley.
"But I think the most pleasing thing is that a lot of young players have really grown up this afternoon and got some self-belief. They have gone toe-to-toe with some serious players and worked really hard and it gives you the self-belief you can take with you for the rest of the season - the rest of your career.
"Some of our lads will have seen just how good they can be and that's really important for a team."
