Club News

Southgate hails 'faultless' Berahino

Under-21s prepare for qualifier in San Marino

ENGLAND Under-21s head coach Gareth Southgate has heaped praise on Baggies starlet Saido Berahino – ahead of tonight’s Euro 2015 qualifying clash in San Marino (ko 7.30pm BST).

The former Villa and Middlesbrough defender handed the 20-year-old striker his Under-21s debut last month – with the Albion Academy product justifying his selection by netting in clashes with Moldova and Finland.

And Southgate is finding it difficult to identify any faults with Berahino – who has netted five goals for the Baggies so far this term. 

"It's great when you see a player you are working with score the winning goal at Old Trafford,” said Southgate. 

"I am delighted for him because I worked with him at the Under-20s World Cup in Columbia a couple of years ago and he was a super lad to work with.

“He's in a really good place at the moment.

“Lovely kid, can finish, terrific pace, great work ethic and when we were working with him last month we were thinking: 'where's the catch?'

"He's a very humble boy. 

“I'm sure there will be peaks and troughs as the season goes because a lot of the players are playing a lot of football.

"But over the past 18 months, he's really come on.” 

The Under-21s will be looking for a positive result at the Serravalle Stadium tonight - before turning to their attention to Tuesday's fixture Lithuania at Portman Road.