Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker missed his side's 5-0 Championship loss to touted transfer destination Burnley as he "did not show up" in time for the game.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a £5m-plus move to the Clarets during the current transfer window.
He had been picked by head coach Miron Muslic to start the match, but was not in the team or among the substitutes for Wednesday night's defeat.
Whittaker, who scored Argyle's winning goal in the FA Cup third round tie at Brentford earlier this month, was spotted in the stands during the game.