After the nightmare came a night of peaceful sleep for James McArthur.
The Scotland midfielder was able to doze off quietly last night, having been delivered safe and sound back into the Barclays Premier League. He has signed a three-year contract with Crystal Palace, leaving Wigan Athletic for a fee of £7m.
Or almost seven, at least. It is understood that Hamilton Academical will receive 10% of the fee paid to Wigan as part of the deal which first took the Scot south.
McArthur has ended up much further south than he thought this summer too, since he had been all set to join Leicester City after a fee was agreed earlier in the week. Instead Esteban Cambiasso walked in the door at the King Power Stadium, with McArthur instead wandering into a state of flux as the last day of the window loomed.
Palace move quickly, though, with McArthur agreeing terms on a move to London. He will turn around immediately to link up with the Scotland squad.
His compatriot, George Boyd, was also on the move yesterday as a £3m transfer from Hull City to Burnley was confirmed. The 28-year-old - who has two caps for Scotland - has signed a three-year contract at the club promoted to the English top flight last season.
"It has been a bit of a whirlwind - it has happened quickly over the last few days. But I'm delighted and can't wait to get started," said Boyd, who had made just one substitute appearance for Hull this season.
"What convinced me to join was the offer of working hard, getting in the first team and continuing to play in the Premier League, which everyone wants to do. I think it is fair to say that I wasn't going to be involved at Hull and the opportunity to come here was just one I couldn't turn down. Hopefully we can stay up and kick on."
Boyd had arrived at Hull on loan from Peterborough United midway through the club's successful promotion campaign in 2012/13. The move became permanent at the end of that campaign but the Scot was unable to hold down a regular starting place.
His attitude was never in question, though. "If all professional footballers were like George Boyd my job would be easy," said Steve Bruce, the Hull manager.
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