Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was happy seeing Chris Wood become New Zealand's greatest goalscorer last week.
Most of Wood's club colleagues are currently making the most of a significant gap between fixtures to train at the world-renowned Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, while the trip has also been a useful team-bonding exercise for recent arrivals like Dan Burn and Matt Targett.
But as much as Howe would ideally have had Wood with his group, he acknowledged that representing his national team and breaking the goal record could prove to be even more beneficial for the big number 20 - and therefore his club.
"I always want a player to achieve their dreams, goals and aims," insisted Howe. "If that is with their country, I want them to achieve that so yes, of course we'd love Chris with us but he has this dream, he loves doing well for his country and we embrace that.
"We want him to go and we want for him to do well - but we also want him back in one piece for us!"
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