Bruce takes comfort in Palacios
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 17 August 2008
Wigan boss Steve Bruce has taken consolation from his side’s opening-day defeat to West Ham in the form of Wilson Palacios’ display.
The Honduras international was The Latics’ star man against The Hammers, and Bruce has hailed the 24-year-old’s input as the kind of talent that persuaded him to bring to The JJB from Birmingham, for who he originally signed the player.
And Bruce has taken the hardline on transfer speculation over Palacios, stating firmly that it would take a huge bid to make him consider selling the player.
"Palacios was superb, the kid has got everything you want in a footballer and if he keeps playing like this he'll be a fantastic one,” said Bruce, after initially lamenting the lack of quality from his side in the opening 15 minutes at Upton Park.
"It was Arsene (Wenger) who recommended him. I was trying to sign Mathieu Flamini for Birmingham at the time and couldn't get him but Wenger said 'I've got this lad from Honduras on trial and he's worth a look'.
"He came to Birmingham, did well, and I signed him again for Wigan in January.
"He's been great and it would take a lot of money to prise him off us now. Luckily there are only two weeks to go to the transfer deadline."
Bruce was also impressed with Amr Zaki’s showing after the Egyptian scored on his debut, even if the international striker did fluff two chances late on.
Bruce continued: "He was just like the player I saw when I went over to Egypt, hustling and bustling around.
"I wondered whether he could reproduce that in The Premier League and it looks like he can.
"If he keeps his feet on the ground and adds a little bit of composure to his game then he'll do really well for us.
"But we're frustrated today because of those first 15 minutes when we were dreadful.
"There was no way we could have expected to come back and win here after giving them two goals so dearly but we nearly did."