The majestic training facilities in North Carolina have certainly been a factor in Scotland making a winning start to this World Cup.
The scope for more family time and the odd game of golf has ensured the players have been happier and more relaxed about tackling the job at hand.
But the feeling that all would be well at the outset of the competition pre-dated the transatlantic crossing on the last day of May.
It arrived the instant Lyndon Dykes walked into the team hotel in Glasgow with not a hair on his skull and business on his mind.
‘I shaved my head intentionally before the tournament,’ he revealed. ‘I change my hair up every so often for something new. But, with Scotland, the shaved head has kind of stuck. The boys like it when it’s shaved.
‘I don’t know what it is. They prefer the bald Dykes. It’s a bit more aggressive maybe.
Lyndon Dykes is a central figure in the Scotland squad that is competing at the World Cup
‘I did it early doors because I was trying to get a bit of tan on the top of my head. It’s a bit white when I usually do it.
‘But I’ll keep it short for this tournament and we’ll see what happens in the future.’
There’s good form here. Dykes first dug out the clippers before the play-off against Serbia, then prior to facing England in Euro 2020.
Before that one he had said: ‘The boys know when they see me with a shaved head that we mean business.’
He was dead right. Scotland were unfortunate only to emerge with a draw that night at Wembley.
Maybe there is something in making oneself look more menacing. He’s clearly all for it. As well as the No 0 on top, he recently pledged to get a World Cup tattoo to go with his collection.
‘I haven’t got one yet, but I’ll definitely get one,’ he said. ‘I need to get a few more boys involved and I’m sure I’ll get a few.
‘We could maybe get a couple of skinheads as well, just get a whole team of skinheads and everyone with a tattoo. That would be brilliant.’
Dykes explained how his shaved head helps him feel more invincible on the field
An entire squad looking more like members of a motorbike gang? This could be very good indeed. Who’d be the most reluctant conscript?
‘McTominay, all day,’ Dykes laughed. ‘It’s all about the looks for him now.’
How Scotland could have done with Dykes two years ago in Germany. While he was there in person, doing media work after being injured on the eve of the Euros, his effervescent personality and bullish attitude were absent in the key moments.
Having hobbled about the Bavarian town of Garmisch in a moon boot, trying to put a brave face on things, he’s savouring every nanosecond of now being at the heart of it all.
‘Yeah, it’s incredible,’ he said. ‘Obviously. I played in the first Euros, but that was during Covid.
‘So, at the last Euros there were some days when I was devastated. There were ups and downs.
‘Some days I was really happy to be with the team. Other days were a struggle to not be involved and just kind of being on the outskirts of it all.
Dykes and McTominay shake hands after their close shave in the opening win over Haiti
‘It was a tough one to take. In the long run it makes you who you are. It helps you grow as a person and take everything in and want to enjoy it.
‘Not everything in life is easy and some things just aren’t meant to happen. That tournament wasn’t supposed to be so I’m super happy that I’m here now.’
For all that it has been told often since he became part of the Scotland set-up, Dykes’ journey in the game is remarkable.
Born in Queensland to Scottish parents, he turned out for local sides Mudgeeraba and Merrimac before earning a trial at Queen of the South.
When he didn’t get a bite at Palmerston, he went back to the Gold Coast, turning out for Redlands United and Surfers Paradise Apollo before the Dumfries club took a second look at him.
From there to Livingston, a move to England, Scotland recognition and now the World Cup. An inspiring story of resilience if ever there was one.
‘I would have never dreamed even to be in this situation,’ he said. ‘Obviously, growing up in Australia, playing all different sports and coming into professional football late, which was luckily through Queen of South and Scotland…
‘Scotland gave me that chance to be where I am now and I’ll be forever grateful. All my family back in Dumfries are all proud.
‘I would have never thought I would be in this situation, but it’s a dream come true.’
Dykes goes up for an aerial challenge with Haiti’s World Cup debutant Martin Experience
He’d experienced a lot on his first 51 caps, but the moment the signal came that he was coming on against Haiti for his 52nd appearance was special.
‘Amazing,’ he recalled. ‘I just wanted to try and impact the game and help us get the win and I think it was a great performance because obviously we got the three points.’
It’s funny how things work out. Had Dykes’ football talent been spotted in his formative years, he might well have been starring for Australia in their win against Turkey in Vancouver, which took place a couple of hours after Scotland saw off Haiti.
‘Obviously, I did have the option to choose both teams,’ he said. ‘It’s good for Australia who got a good win the other night. But I’m totally focused on Scotland and I haven’t watched much of the World Cup anyway. I saw their result, which is good for them.’
Scotland have plenty of reasons to be thankful that they can count him as one of their own. Aside from the can-do attitude and his bright personality, when he plays, he delivers.
There’s a remarkable stat which illustrates his under-appreciated value to the cause. Each time he has scored, Scotland have won. For all his critics, he’s never let Steve Clarke down.
‘I was at Livingston when the manager called me up and said he was thinking about calling me up,’ the striker recalled.
‘He told me, during our very first phone call, that it’s not a given that you’re always going to get called up. You have to make sure you prove it.
‘I think I always do that even if some people say I’m not scoring enough goals or things like that. I think I do a lot more in other aspects to help the team out.
‘I am always ready. I always give my best and wear my heart on my sleeve. I’ll do my best for my team.
‘I just want to make sure we get out of this group and I want to make sure we have some good times to remember.’
There’s a few in the bank already this summer. Dykes’ bald ambition is that there are many more to follow.
