Last Updated: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:05
Stoke boss Tony Pulis says Wilson Palacios is unable to play every game as he struggles with a knee injury.
The 29-year-old has been a disappointment since arriving from Tottenham for £6million in the summer but Pulis says injury has prevented him from getting anywhere near his best.
There have been one or two voices of discontent at the fact that Palacios is not getting enough game time, but Pulis says the player has not fully recovered still from the knee operation he had 12 months ago.
Pulis is scared to use him too much and cause further problems and says Stoke fans will only see the real Wilson Palacios next season when he has had another pre-season under his belt.
Pulis told the Daily Mirror: "He is getting closer to being right, but he hasn't been strong enough to get through games and there's always that worry that if he is not fit enough, the injury will flare up again.
"He can only do a certain amount. We can only take him to certain levels and because he is not strong enough physically yet, he gets close to where it might break down."
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