Tony Pulis: 'Saido Berahino is lucky to make the bench'

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has said that Saido Berahino was "lucky to be on the bench" for today's clash with Newcastle United.

The 22-year-old has endured a troubled first half of the season after the Baggies refused to sell the striker during the last transfer window, turning down a reported offer of £15m from Tottenham Hotspur.

In recent weeks, Berahino has found playing time hard to come by and for today's match, Pulis opted to give Victor Anichebe his first start of the season ahead of Berahino.

"With Saido, I'm an experienced manager and there's a lot of things that go on at a football club that determines whether people should be in the team or shouldn't be in the team," Pulis told Sky Sports News ahead of the match at The Hawthorns.

"Today Saido's lucky to be on the bench, never mind starting. There's things that go on at football clubs, like I say, that people don't see and don't realise. He's a smashing kid but he lets himself down at times."

Asked to elaborate on what had happened, Pulis added: "No, there's no problems. It's been sorted out."

West Brom currently find themselves 13th in the Premier League table, three points from safety.