Tony Pulis has hailed Saido Berahino for his hard work during pre-season and backed the West Bromwich Albion striker to form a strong partnership with Salomon Rondon this season.

The 23-year-old is a target for both Crystal Palace and Stoke City this summer, with the latter already having one bid knocked back for the Englishman.

Berahino was still named in Albion's starting lineup for Saturday's trip to Selhurst Park, however, where he put in a solid shift alongside eventual match-winner Rondon.

"You never want to lose the opening game and if you can win it, it's a great bonus," the Birmingham Mail quotes Pulis as saying. "Saido was good today. The two of them could be a real handful.

"The only thing I can say about Saido is he's worked really hard in pre-season. If we get him back to playing well then those two will be great."

Berahino scored seven goals in 35 appearances for West Brom last season after pushing for a move to Tottenham Hotspur.