Crystal Palace may have decided against a warm-weather training camp in Dubai, with members of the club's hierarchy concerned about how supporters would react.
But recent loan signing Mamadou Sakho had no such worries, jetting off to the middle east for a trip with his wife, Madja.
Palace are currently 19th in the Premier League - level of points on with bottom club Sunderland.
They were beaten 4-0 at home by David Moyes' side in their last home match, a week on from being dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester City.
