Stoke flop Saido Berahino set to be called-up by Burundi after playing for England at youth level
The Potters' striker has been cleared to play for the country of his birth after failing to make it into Three Lions' senior squad
SAIDO BERAHINO has been cleared to play for Burundi on the international stage - despite appearing for England at youth level.
The Stoke City attacker excelled for the under-21s, before receiving call-ups to the senior side on several occasions.
But the 24-year-old will be allowed to play for the country of his birth, after Fifa approved the move.
Berahino moved to England alone at the age of 10 to escape war-torn Burundi, earning political asylum to join his mother and siblings.
After joining West Brom as a youngster, he rose through the ranks, eventually scoring ten times in 11 matches for the England under-21 side.
His form for the Baggies and at youth level on the international stage earned Berahino a call-up to the senior side from his former coach, Roy Hodgson, for a Euro 2016 qualifier.
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But since he did not feature, the striker was able to switch his footballing nationality to Burundi, who had approached him over three years ago.
The country's football federation made the announce on Twitter, coming just in time for their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon in September.
The Swallows have never qualified for the continental tournament, nor the World Cup.
Berahino will be hoping a return to the international stage will help him find his goalscoring boots, having failed to find the back of the net since joining Stoke in January 2017.
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