Stoke Striker Saido Berahino Insists He Will Work Hard This Summer as He Looks to End Goal Drought

?Stoke striker Saido Berahino insists he is ready to work hard this summer in order to end his 15-month goal drought. 

The Englishman is still waiting to score his first goal for Mark Hughes’ team having joined in somewhat acrimonious circumstances from West Brom back in January. 

With just one game left to play until the summer break, the 23-year-old has already turned his attentions to pre-season as he looks to start afresh when the new campaign kicks off in August. 

Speaking to the ?Daily Star, Berahino said: “I need to pick myself up and show what I’m about. I’ve got a lot to offer for Stoke. That will come. I’ve got to work hard but the luck will come.

“We will break up as normal and I’ve got my own plan. I’ll have a few days off then it’s back to work and I’ll make sure I’m ready for pre-season to hit the ground running.”

Despite his struggles in front of goal, Berahino has admitted that he is pleased to have finally regained full fitness and though he hasn’t given up hope of ending his barren spell in front of goal against Southampton on Sunday, he remains focused on what he claims will be a big year for both himself and Stoke next season. 

He added: “The fans have taken me in brilliantly and they’ve been behind me every minute. It would be good to get a goal for them against Southampton.

“It feels a bit weird for me to be coming to the end of the season because I’m just picking up my levels, my fitness and sharpness and then the season is about to end.

“It’s a tough one but next year is a big season for me – and not just me but the whole squad, we need to push for that top eight.

“That’s the reason why I came here, to go to that next level. I need to find my feet and get that level of consistency back from 2014-15 when I was scoring goals. That’s massive for me.”