IN the absence of striker Carlo Costly and experienced defender Maynor Figueroa, veteran midfielder Wilson Palacios will be tasked with a higher level of responsibility when his team faces Jamaica Reggae Boyz here at the Tiburcio Carias Olympic Stadium in Tegucigalpa at 8:00 pm today.

The 28-year-old Palacios, who has been told he can find a new club as Stoke City try to end his reported £26,000 per week contract, was signed from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2011, but has experienced a lean spell at the Britannia Stadium, having not started an English Premier League game in over 12 months.

An athletic and powerful player who possesses an incredible work-rate and a fearless attitude when it comes to tackling, is a commanding, ball-winning central midfielder who never shies away from a challenge.

He was a member of the 2010 World Cup team, his country’s first appearance in 27 years, and he has also played in England for Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City.

Palacios started his career alongside four of his brothers at Club Deportivo Victoria before moving to Olimpia and moving to Birmingham City on loan in 2007.

Steve Bruce paid Olimpia a fee in the region of just £700,000 to secure his services and Palacios made an immediate impact with his performances in the second half of that season attracting interest from Manchester United. When Bruce left Birmingham, he took Palacios with him to Wigan not long afterwards.

Although Palacios played only 41 games for Wigan, his strong, calm and commanding displays in the holding role in the Latics’ midfield had earned him many plaudits — though anyone who has seen him shoot will realise why he never scored for either Birmingham or Wigan. His move to Tottenham was initially held up due to work permit issues but he eventually signed before the transfer window closed to add steel to the Spurs midfield.

However, after a bright start at White Hart Lane, the news of the murder of his brother in May 2009 appeared to affect his performance. He was allowed to join Stoke on the final day of the August transfer window in 2011 for a fee believed to be in the region of £8 million.