Stoke City striker Saido Berahino last scored 583 days ago following penalty miss during Southampton victory

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In 2010, England’s kit sponsors Umbro perceived Saido Berahino to be the future of football in this country. As a 17-year-old, he shared the stage for a promotional photo-shoot with Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Eric Dier.

As a young hopeful, the 2018 World Cup in Russia would have been a key objective. Yet as England manager Gareth Southgate watched on here, Berahino, still only 24, is barely a footnote to the national discussion.

His turmoil becomes more acute by the week. He has encountered discipline problems, accusations of poor fitness, an eight-week ban for recreational drug use and now the mother of all goal-scoring slumps.

Saido Berahino was once England's big hope - but he is now a long way from the World Cup

Stoke striker Berahino is in the mother of all goal-scoring slumps - 583 days since his last goal

Berahino had a golden chance against Southampton, but his penalty was saved

In its most bleak terms, 583 days have passed since Berahino scored a competitive goal. 

He is still to score since signing for Stoke in January and his last goal for previous club West Bromwich Albion came in February 2016.

In the Premier League, he has subsequently played 1,908 minutes, had 38 shots and failed to score. 

There has been one assist in that time. He has now also missed four penalties since he last scored. Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster denied him from the spot this time.

‘I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been frustrating for me,’ Berahino said. ‘I’ve been brought here to score goals and I believe I can do that. The most important thing is the manager has still got belief in me.’

Stoke manager Mark Hughes admitted he has had the 24-year-old in for finishing practice

That manager, Mark Hughes, admitted he has had him in for extra finishing practice. He did not play badly here but Hughes said: ‘On occasions he will have a little bit of doubt but we tell him to concentrate on doing the right things. It is a difficult period but we feel it is just a matter of time.’ 

Berahino was replaced in the 70th minute by Peter Crouch, who scored a late winner. Hughes suggested the 36-year-old may have his contract extended by another year.

Stoke took the lead from a Mame Biram Diouf header but, after Berahino’s penalty miss, Southampton equalised through Maya Yoshida.