Baggies banish bulky Berahino to France for solo training

West Brom striker Saido Berahino has been sent to France as part of a training regime aimed at improving the former England Under-21 standout's match fitness.

With just four Premier League appearances this season, and none since a Sept. 10 defeat at Bournemouth's Dean Court, Berahino has become the forgotten man at the Hawthorns.

In October, Berahino was put on a personal weight-loss programme, and now the 23-year-old Burundi-born forward is in France after failing to satisfy Baggies boss Tony Pulis.

"Saido's off at a fitness centre working with a fellow I worked with when I was young in management," Pulis told Sky Sports' Michael Kelleher.

"He's got a week to top himself up to a level and hopefully he'll be not only sharp but at a level to sustain it."

Berahino's West Brom tenure has been anything but straightforward since he emerged as one of the Premier League's best young attackers after bagging 14 goals during the 2014-15 campaign. That meteoric rise prompted interest from Tottenham, which had three separate bids - the last of them for £22.5 million - rejected by the West Midlands side.

With Berahino's contract set to expire during the summer, Pulis and Co. are forced to make the best of the situation for the time being. Despite repeated instances of friction between the two, the gaffer appears set to offer the striker yet another chance.

"He'll assess what we've done and make a judgement on what Saido needs to do. We think this is the best way," Pulis conceded.

"It will be a good experience for Saido and for the club so we'll get a good idea of his conditioning."