Tottenham's goalless draw at Everton was overshadowed by the tragedy that has hit their midfielder Wilson Palacios, following the discovery of a body believed to be that of his kidnapped younger brother.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp confirmed Palacios had flown home to Honduras following the apparent death of his teenage brother Edwin, who had been kidnapped in 2007 and held to ransom.

Palacios, a £14million signing from Wigan in January, left the Spurs team hotel in Liverpool at 7am ahead of their 0-0 draw with Everton, when news filtered through from his homeland that his brother's body had been found.

Redknapp said: "The lad had heard from his family at about one in the morning what had happened, and his brothers I believe have identified the body.

"But he sat around the hotel lobby with his case packed until 7am because he didn't want to wake me.

"I'm amazed with him. But we organised for him to be driven back to London so he could get a flight home.

"Things like that bring everything into focus. I believe the boy had been kidnapped and a ransom had been paid but he had not been released."

Spurs' point keeps them in the hunt for seventh place in the Barclays Premier League, but Redknapp was more concerned with Palacios.

He said: "You couldn't wish for a more calm and likeable lad, football is not really that important after this."