Former West Brom sensation Saido Berahino has reserved high praise for one Wolves star that he used to play with.
Gary O’Neil will have full focus on the upcoming 2024/25 season with Wolves as preparation is well underway at the club.
The manager finally has the chance to assess his squad after arriving late in the summer last year, with his players currently in Marbella at a training camp.
Some squad members will need less attention than others based on their performances last term, with one reliable Wolves player now receiving praise from a former hero in the Black Country.
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Former West Brom star Saido Berahino says Craig Dawson is the most underrated player he’s played with
It’s difficult to put Wolves and West Brom in the same sentence without a feeling of animosity, however, a warming link has been formed between the two.
Saido Berahino is the culprit for such link, as the former West Brom hero was full of praise for Wolves defender Craig Dawson in a recent interview.
The duo played together for the Baggies, seeing Berahino dub Dawson as the ‘most underrated player’ he played with in his career.
Speaking on Rising Ballers’ Perspectives segment, the West Brom academy graduate explained what impressed him so much about Dawson.
When asked who the most underrated teammate he had was, Berahino said:
“Dawson actually, I think he was underrated. He was professional, technically gifted as well, a good defender, a top pro, busy, super busy.
“He used to come in like two hours before everyone every morning but I guess that’s why he’s at the top now still playing.”
Berahino’s praise for the Wolves defender is unsurprising given the 34-year-old’s impact at the club after arriving from West Ham in 2023, always acting as a figure that leads by example at Molineux.
Dawson is one of Wolves’ most important players
Dawson played with Berahino for the entirety of the Burundi international’s time at The Hawthorns.
Given the now 30-year-old’s assessment of the Wolves defender’s impact, it’s clear to see why the Premier League veteran is rated so highly by O’Neil in the current squad.
When Dawson was injured in the latter stages of last term, the Old Gold’s defensive form dipped, reinforcing his stature in the back line, despite being one of the oldest in the squad.
Berahino’s description of the Englishman’s commitment will come as no surprise to those at Wolves, who appreciate the experience and wisdom that the 2023 arrival has offered to O’Neil’s side.
West Brom fans may feel a little disgruntled by Berahino’s comments, with Dawson still playing at the top at Molineux, five years after his Baggies exit.