Palacios relishing Spurs challenge

TOTTENHAM new boy Wilson Palacios is confident he has not joined a club destined for relegation and is relishing helping Spurs stay in the Barclays Premier League.

Palacios relishing Spurs challenge

The Honduras international swapped Wigan for White Hart Lane this week in a £14m deal and although his new team are languishing three points above the bottom three, he does not see it as a backward step in his career.

“I think we all know Tottenham is a big club,” he said. “The players here are excellent quality and it is only a matter of time before we start to move up the league. With the players we have I’m sure we will soon go up the table. It is a squad full of quality.

“I’m extremely happy to have signed with Tottenham and so far I’ve had a fantastic welcome from all my team-mates.”

The 24-year-old’s move meant severing ties with Steve Bruce, the man who signed him for Birmingham in 2007 before taking him to Wigan last January.

It was in fact Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who initially brought Palacios over from Central America however, but the midfielder does not regret not being able to sign for the Gunners.

“I went for a trial at Arsenal and it went well but they had a lot of midfielders at that time,” he said.

“Arsene Wenger recommended me to Steve Bruce though so I went to Birmingham. It is true I got on very well with Steve Bruce and he gave me a lot of confidence as a player. But this is a new stage for me. I have come to a big club and I am very happy. You have to be professional as a footballer.”

Palacios’ impact on the league has been all the more remarkable given that his teenage brother Edwin has not been seen since he was kidnapped in La Ceiba in October 2007. His family paid a ransom but no release ensued.

“We are all aware and working on what is happening at home,” said Palacios.

“Everyone knows the situation I’m in but I’ve been concentrating on my game and that is how I have been getting through it so far.”

Tottenham travel to Bolton today for a relegation battle, but they are buoyed by Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat of Stoke which lifted them to 13th and 24 points — a tally shared by Wanderers. Palacios is likely to be included in the squad, as is defender Pascal Chimbonda who should make his second Spurs debut after re-signing from Sunderland.

Palacios insists the hefty price tag does not weigh heavily on him, nor do the comments of boss Harry Redknapp, who hailed him as one of the league’s best midfielders and a player around whom he wants to build his team.

“You could say (the transfer fee) is a pressure but I don’t think so. I’m just going to carry on working as hard as I did at my last club and hopefully keep playing just as well,” Palacios added.

“(Redknapp’s praise) fires me up even more to work hard and prove him right. Now I’ve just got to make sure I’m in the manager’s plans and in the starting line-up.”

More in this section

Sport

Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers. and reporters

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited