Tony Pulis backs Saido Berahino to pull out of his slump as fallen West Brom star is told to prepare for return to the starting line-up

Tony Pulis has admitted he has never before dealt with a situation like Saido Berahino’s fall from form but insists he is ready to start the 22-year-old striker for the first time since October.

Berahino is in contention against Swansea due to Salomon Rondon’s three-match suspension and Pulis has challenged his player to perform now that ’the gun is pointed firmly at him again’.

Berahino has not started a game for West Bromwich since the defeat to Leicester on October 31, being placed on the bench for the last five fixtures, coming on for 41 minutes in total.

Saido Berahino (right) is set to make his first start since October 31 during the post-Christmas period

Berahino and Rickie Lambert (right) will both be used by Tony Pulis in place of suspended Salomon Rondon 

Tottenham are expected to mount a bid once the January transfer window opens, having been blamed by Pulis for triggering Berahino’s downturn after failing with four offers in the summer. Berahino threatened to go on strike after Jeremy Peace denied his desired move.

'I have been in management a long time but it is the first time someone has had that opportunity and not gone and then just faded away as much as what Saido has,’ said Pulis. 'I am not blaming the kid one bit about that, it is just the way it has been.

'He has everything at his feet really. He just has to learn. We are all different. You can't pigeon hole people and say everyone is going to react this way. 

'The most important thing with Saido is that it is a short career. He has to enjoy it. He has to be playing as many games as he can and do what he does well, which is scoring goals.’ 

Pulis says he's never had to deal with a situation such as that with Berahino, whose form slumped after he was denied a move to Tottenham in the summer

The West Brom boss doesn't blame Berahino, but has says he has all the talent but still plenty to learn

Rickie Lambert might be preferred by Pulis for the match at the Liberty Stadium, but the head coach is set to rotate his squad over the festive period and has told Berahino to be fully focussed.

‘It is going to point the gun firmly at him again,’ said Pulis. 'He has got to make sure that he gets his head in gear and performs well. If something comes up, it comes up. If it doesn't he has to recognise he has to play football. 

'I don't think it is inevitable (he will go). It is up to the chairman. If you are buying a house, the buyer has to put the right offer in and the one who is selling has to accept that offer.

'There is always a price for people. But that doesn't mean that that deal is going to be done.’ Spurs failed with a final bid on transfer deadline day worth £23million including add-ons.