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Moritz Bauer is putting his money where his mouth is to back Saido Berahino to return to scoring form.

The defender must be liking the look of how Berahino is shaping up in pre-season for Stoke City – and offered fans a wager on Twitter.

He said: “C’mon lads, we need all the support we can get this season. This boy Saido Berahino will be firing. Believe in him as I do or bet against me?!”

And after inquiring about the price of a pint at the bet365 Stadium – it’s £4 for a Marston’s – he has vowed to put £1,000 behind the bar – with the Sentinel holding the stake – and available if Berahino hasn’t scored by Christmas.

In return, he wants supporters out in shirts and backing the team at full volume as they launch a tilt at immediate promotion.

He said: “Ok then… I’ll pay £1,000 for pints if he doesn’t score until Christmas.

“But when he starts scoring I want to see everybody in Stoke shirts behind all of us for the rest of the season!”

(Image: SCFC / Phil Greig)

Berahino has had a pretty rough time on and off the pitch since joining from West Brom for £12m in January 2017.

But he has been impressing in attitude, fitness and sharpness since returning for pre-season and scored in a 5-2 behind closed doors win over Macclesfield on Tuesday.

He is expected to get another 45-minute run out tomorrow in a friendly at Walsall (3pm).

Bauer has carried on making pledges.

He bet Stoke supporter Gareth (AKA @OatcakeEater) that if Berahino scores under 10 goals this season, he will join him for a day's charity work. If Berahino tops 10, Gareth has to back Berahino wearing a Stoke shirt.

Lou Macari would give Saido Berahino another chance too

The former Stoke boss has written about Berahino in his Sentinel column this summer and the opportunities that could be ahead over the next few months.

He said: "I know most fans probably think Saido Berahino has already passed through the last chance saloon, but if there’s one thing that might just save his career at Stoke then it’s relegation.

"Playing in the Championship next season might just persuade new manager Gary Rowett to give Berahino one final chance.

"Three previous managers have tried and failed to get anything out of Berahino, but playing at a lower level might just be Rowett’s big advantage over them.

(Image: Phil Radcliffe)

"It’s difficult to be a player of any pedigree and not have an impact in the Championship, so Berahino really will be hitting rock bottom if he does get a chance and can’t take it this time.

"He will have to get himself physically fit first, of course, and if he fails to do that in pre-season then he’s toast anyway.

"But if he does, and shows the right attitude with it, then he surely has enough sharpness and clever thinking to start making inroads for Stoke City against Championship defences. Let’s face it, giving him that chance may now be the only option for club and player.

"If he does go on to get a goal or two then giving him that one last chance will have been a wise decision.

"But Berahino clearly has an awful lot to prove and he has to be aware that Rowett will have started to form a judgement from day one of pre-season training."