West Brom boss Steve Clarke is ready to unleash youngster Saido Berahino on the Barclays Premier League after the refugee marked his full debut with a 36-minute hat-trick against Newport County.
Steve Clarke's side eased into the third round of the Capital One Cup with a professional 3-0 win made more eye-catching by the Burundi-born winger's stellar contribution.
The 20-year-old academy product, who with his family left the war-ravaged African state as a 10-year-old, was by far and away his side's stand-out performer as he took the game to the Welsh outfit from the first minute to effectively wrap up the win before the half-time whistle had even blown.
"He was excellent, really great," said the Albion head coach on the day Berahino was named in the England Under-21 squad for their forthcoming qualifiers.
"I'm really pleased for him because he was at Peterborough last year where he did ever so well in the Championship but then got a really nasty injury which kept him out for seven months.
"But he worked hard over the summer with the medical staff and got in great shape. He joined us for pre-season and I can't say I'm surprised by how well he's done. He's been really good in games and done well for us.
"I'm absolutely delighted for the boy because he's worked so hard for his chance and he took it with both hands.
"You saw his performance. In the first half he was the best player on the pitch. He tired a bit in the second half - as did a few others who haven't had much playing time recently.
"But he's given me a lot to think about and I'm really pleased he has."
Summer signing Scott Sinclair was one of five full debutants for Albion while third-choice goalkeeper Luke Daniels stood in for Ben Foster after he suffered a stress fracture in his foot.
Source: PA
