BACK from a two-day stay in Belgium with the hangover of a Europa League defeat, Tom Ince returned to his residence of a hotel room.
Hardly the Ritz, the 22-year-old headed back to the familiar surroundings with not even a shred of doubt over a move which has taken him from the west coast to east.
For, if home is where the heart is, then Ince's resides firmly in a quiet part of East Yorkshire, albeit a hotel room.
Encouraged by a prominent role so far in Steve Bruce's Hull City side, Ince not only feels appreciated by a man he's known since childhood, but is also heartened by the feeling of home he's already developed in such a short time.
Turning down an opportunity for the heady heights of Inter Milan in the summer, a club his father graced so successfully, Ince was not short of suitors when he left Blackpool.
While City may have surprised some, for Ince it's the best decision he could have made.
Asked his feeling now in the early stages since his move, Ince is clear and succinct.
"I am over the moon," explains the ex-Liverpool man.
"I have found my home here. With the manager, when someone helps you out like that, not only on the pitch but also off it, you are happy.
"When you are happy off the pitch the performances come on it. It's a long season ahead. I know what I want to do, I've got ambitions in myself.
"But first of all it is to try and do well for Hull City and most importantly to try and score goals for this football club to win football matches for them."
With Inter Milan's offer genuine, the delights of the Italian city could have attracted the aspiring young forward.
Having been hailed as the next big thing while at Anfield, he quickly became surplus to requirements and after a loan spell at Notts County was shipped out to Blackpool.
Sent out on loan from the Seasiders to Crystal Palace, Ince's nomadic existence in his formative years appeared set to continue.
That is until Bruce came calling close-season. And while it would have been easier to be attracted by the bright lights of Milan, Ince took an approach he insists he'll not regret.
"I've said to many people, it's easy to just reach for the stars and go for the top and think 'Yeah, I'm doing this, I'm doing that'. But you have to think football," he explains.
"There are not many 20, 21, 22-year-olds that are playing week in, week out in the Premier League now.
"I am with a great bunch of lads and there are a lot of games coming up, hopefully in the Europa League and in the cup runs as well, there is plenty of football to be played.
"If I can keep myself fit and work hard then obviously I will try and get some goals for myself and help win matches."
The objective of scoring goals will be intensified tomorrow when Ince goes in search of his first for the Tigers.
Having impressed against Queens Park Rangers and with his 15-minute cameo in Lokeren which threatened to help turn the tie on its head, Ince will hope to continue in the same manner against Stoke.
"Last Saturday was fantastic, but now this is our first home game of the new season," says Ince. "Stoke are under pressure after losing their first game. We are under no illusions.
"They are a good side and will come to play. But if we can create the chances like we did against Lokeren, hopefully we can finish them.
"If we can maintain the confidence tomorrow that we took into the Lokeren game it will be fantastic."
An early goal would certainly help the Tigers, not to mention give Ince's own confidence a shot in the arm as he acclimatises to his new home.
