 Manager Tony Pulis revealed that his fitness level and a long-standing knee injury had been the problem and that the fans would not see the best of him before he had undergone a full pre-season training schedule.However, he was unable to get into the starting line-up in 2012–13, making just four league appearances, all as a substitute.Palacios was due to start the first match of the 2013–14 season away at Liverpool after being named by Mark Hughes in the starting line-up, but he pulled out after feeling ill in the warm-up and was taken to hospital where he underwent a "minor surgical procedure."