Striker Rory Fallon will join New Zealand teammate Tommy Smith at Ipswich Town after signing with the English Championship soccer club on loan.
Fallon's career at his financially struggling English League One club Plymouth Argyle appears over, so the lanky 28-year-old will want to impress during his stint at Ipswich, which will end on January 22.
The move is effectively a promotion for Fallon as Plymouth Argyle play in the third tier of the English game, one below the level of the Championship, which sits below the Premiership.
It comes as a surprise to many observers, with Fallon having scored just once in 12 appearanes for Plymouth Argyle this season.
He may debut on Sunday in an East Anglican derby match away to Norwich, with manager and former Manchester United great Roy Keane keen for his side to improve their goalscoring. Ipswich are 13th in the 24-team league.
Plymouth Argyle manager Peter Reid said he would now be on the lookout for a striker to fill Fallon's boots.
"I've decided to let Rory go out with a view to a permanent move when the transfer window kicks in in January," Reid told reporters.
"We'll be actively seeking a replacement.
"It's a great opportunity for Rory and I'm sure he'll thrive in the Championship environment."
Fallon scored 19 times in 141 games for Plymouth since joining in January 2007. Before that he played for Barnsley, Swindon Town and Swansea City.
Fallon, the son of former All Whites assistant coach Kevin Fallon, has a place in New Zealand soccer folklore after scoring the lone goal in their World Cup qualifying win over Bahrain in Wellington last year. He started in all three pool matches at the World Cup in South Africa in June -- the only Plymouth Argyle player to represent his country at the tournament.
He missed last month's home international draw against Honduras while recovering from an injury and came on in the second half of the subsequent loss to Paraguay,
