Exclusive: Phillips cannot see Berahino returning to West Brom
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has dismissed the notion of Zulte Wagerem forward Saido Berahino ever returning to West Brom.
Berahino did an Instagram live with Rekeem Harper last month and discussed potentially returning to The Hawthorns.
The former Stoke striker also posted images and clips of himself wearing West Brom’s famous blue and white stripes, leading to a discussion on Twitter about whether he would be welcomed back.
One poll, carried out by Baggies Analytics, shows that 34 per cent of those who voted would be open to the 26-year-old returning.
https://twitter.com/BaggieAnalytics/status/1241711119644930053
However ex-West Brom striker Phillips simply cannot see that happening.
When asked if he can see Berahino returning, Phillips told West Brom News: “I can’t see that happening.
“I like Saido and I worked with him at Stoke. He’s a nice lad and a great finisher. But he’s moved on and certainly, West Brom have moved on.
“I think it was a good idea for him to move abroad and just try to fall back in love with football and get out of the limelight to sort himself out off the pitch and on the pitch.
“As much as he might like to come back, I just don’t see it happening if I’m honest.”
Since leaving Stoke and joining Belgian club Zulte Wagerem, Berahino has rediscovered his form by scoring eight goals in 22 appearances across all competitions.
But even if he was bagging a goal-a-game, there would be a lot of fans who would be against the striker returning to the Black Country due to way he left and his off-the-pitch issues.
There are plenty of better strikers out there.
In other West Brom news, Albion’s turnover plunged by £54million after relegation.