West Brom manager Tony Pulis believes that controversial striker Saido Berahino is as important to the club as Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy are to Tottenham and Leicester respectively.

Berahino is a product of the Baggies youth academy and burst onto the scene in 2014-15 as he netted 20 goals in all competitions.

However, Berahino has not featured regularly for West Brom this term due to injuries and some of his off-the-field actions.

The striker was hoping to force through a move to Tottenham, who are priced at 3.75 to win the Premier League, over the summer, but his club turned down three approaches to keep hold of their key man.

The England under-21 international was left frustrated at failing to earn his move and subsequently vowed never to play for the club again.

He issued an apology on Friday and has recently returned to first team action after overcoming an injury, and he netted his first league goal since October on Saturday in the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.

Pulis insists Berahino is integral to what West Brom are trying to achieve and believes he is as influential as Kane and Vardy, who are both helping their teams to challenge for the Premier League title.

He said: “If you take Kane out of Tottenham’s team or Vardy out of Leicester’s, they leave massive holes. Saido is as good for us as they are.

“When Saido and Salomon Rondon, play together they are handful and we haven’t had that for half a season.”