Considering the drama in his private life, Wilson Palacios could be excused for not having the appetite for a relegation battle. After all, the “King of Honduras” has more pressing matters on his mind, such as whether he will see his 15-year-old brother again.

Edwin René Palacios was snatched from a house in the Honduran port city of La Ceiba in October and, although there has been contact between kidnappers and the family, Wigan Athletic’s recent £1 million signing has not seen his youngest sibling since. These are worrying times for the 23-year-old, yet Palacios continues to get on with his job without fuss. His latest stylish midfield performance helped his team to a crucial win that catapulted them out of the bottom three before matches against Sunderland and Derby County that could define their season.

Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, who signed Palacios on loan when he was in charge at Birmingham City, has nothing but praise for a player who is worshipped at home in Central America. “He came over to England with just a little bag from Honduras,” Bruce said. “His brother is still kidnapped, but he’s made of tough stuff. It’s unfortunate what’s happened and I’m sure it will get sorted out.

“The family has been in touch with the brother. It’s not easy for Wilson, but he has a tough mentality. His family can feel very proud of him. They call him the King of Honduras in his home country.”

The pitch at the JJB Stadium may not have been fit for a king, but Palacios was one of the few players who overcame the atrocious pitch to show their quality. Even the match-winning goal, a looping header by Kevin Kilbane from Ryan Taylor’s free kick, was a fluke. “I tried to head it back across the six-yard line, but I caught it very well and it just went over Robert Green,” Kilbane, the left back, said.

Wigan ought to have won by a more handsome margin. Antonio Valencia hit the woodwork twice with one effort, while Marcus Bent, a substitute, spurned a great opportunity to score his eighth league goal of the season.

West Ham, who triumphed against Liverpool in midweek, hardly created a chance as they slipped to their first defeat away to Wigan and Alan Curbishley, the manager, said that the result was hugely damaging in terms of his team securing a Uefa Cup spot. “For us to push into the top six, we’ve got to pick some wins up,”

Curbishley said. “We play Birmingham next week and then Fulham. We’ve got to get results if we’re going to have a chance of doing that.”

Meanwhile, groin injuries have forced Craig Bellamy and Danny Gabbidon to withdraw from the Wales squad to play Norway in a friendly international on Wednesday.

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2)

C Kirkland 7

M Melchiot 7