Chris Wood is in the Middle East _ only not for a much vaunted intensive bonding session with his new Newcastle United team-mates as might have been expected but to pursue his already well established international career with New Zealand.
Such a decision even surprises his international manager as well as raising a few eyebrows amongst the devoted back on Tyneside.
While United are undergoing a morale lifting get together in Saudi Arabia ahead of their death-or-glory bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League plotted by a determined new ownership, a player they splashed out £25m to bring here in an emergency is concentrating on what is happening next door in the United Arab Emirates.
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NZ boss Danny Hay says he never doubted Wood's commitment to his country's cause but admits he is "a little shocked" to have his 60-capped striker available for internationals in the UAE against Jordan on Friday and Uzbekistan next Tuesday February 1.
Conceding he "half-expected" Wood to ask if he could miss some or all of the trip Hay went on: "If you look at the move that he's just made I think we are all aware of the money that has changed hands and the pressure and expectations that he is going to be under.
"I would have thought he would have wanted to have spent a little bit of time with his club side, but that for me is the incredible thing _ how much he loves playing for his country and what it means to him.
"For him to forego probably some big benefits inside Newcastle's camp by forming good relationships or furthering relationships with his teammates and with the management is huge.
"Chris has got such a strong, strong, strong desire to get back to a World Cup, and I think he sees this window as a particularly important part of it."
Hmnn, Eddie Howe obviously is okay with Wood's decision, though what the Saudis privately think we are not so sure, but regardless it can be argued that it is a high risk move by the player given Newcastle's critical league position and the fact they had enough faith in him to pay well over the going rate to trigger his release clause.
It's not as though he has hit the ground in a blaze of goalscoring glory at his new club.
Indeed while Newcastle have thankfully harvested four points out of six Wood's two performances have been distinctly lukewarm and have brought some personal criticism both from neutral big name pundits and Toon fans.
Insistence by Howe that his new centre-forward was "magnificent" in victory at Elland Road owed more to PR bolstering player and crowd than genuine substance, which is perhaps predictable under the circumstances, but in reality United's boss knows there must be more to come.
Of course it is early doors and it would be totally unfair to criticise Wood too much on just three hours of football but early impressions are crucial _ ask a previous centre-forward Joelinton _ and his showing is in stark contrast to United's other January import Kieran Trippier who has been outstanding while costing half as much money.
There is no question Wood is having a relatively barren season. In his four fully completed PL campaigns with Burnley he notched 10, 10, 14, and 12 goals but managed just three in 17 appearances for the Clarets this term while he has gone another two matches for United without scoring.
That equates to three strikes in 23 games over all competitions which is a goal every seven games, not a good ratio for a centre-forward never mind a £25m one.
If Joelinton has only rescued his SJP career after switching from front line attacker to a deeper midfield role then United's other relatively recent No.9 signing Callum Wilson was a success from the off both scoring goals and leading his line intelligently and with aggressive determination.
United desperately need Wood to strike a rich vein of form, inspire those around him, and score goals. It is imperative in a still-to-be-won battle against relegation and the whole point of flying to Jeddah was supposedly to collectively bond, increase team spirit and belief after a previously bad run of results, and work hard through the advantages presented by warm weather training.
While Wood's love of his country is admirable and his desire to play in the World Cup finals in Qatar totally understandable it would be thought that wishing to create an immediate impact with new supporters and those who showed great faith in him by buying big is crucial.
After all his position with the New Zealand international squad where he is vice captain has surely been well secured over 60 international caps whereas his new club standing is still to be decided.
However the hope of every Geordie has to be that everything goes brilliantly for Chris Wood with his All Whites and his black and whites. We all need a break.
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