Tom Huddlestone says midfield partner Wilson Palacios is critical to Tottenham's success this season.

Huddlestone and Palacios are developing a powerful partnership in the Spurs midfield this term.

"Tottenham has been renowned for not having a ball-winning midfielder like that and playing too much pretty football," Huddlestone told the club's website.

"Wilson is the one who gets about teams, puts the tackles in and it almost makes everyone else do it. If you see someone go in with a crunching tackle it seems to spur the rest of the team on.

"This season the most noticeable difference has been the tempo we've played both with and without the ball.

"We're working as hard as ever to win the ball back and if we manage to do that, especially in the opponents' half, we've the players going forward that not many teams are able to live with."