Rory Fallon has resumed training with the rest of Plymouth Argyle's squad after recovering from his World Cup exploits – and he expects to be a Pilgrims' player when the npower League One season begins on Saturday week.

Fallon took no part in Argyle's pre-season training camp in the Netherlands last week, or in the two weeks' worth of work which preceded the trip to Papendal. After playing three tough games for New Zealand at the World Cup finals in South Africa last month, the striker was given dispensation to delay his return to full training with the Pilgrims.

Fallon reported for duty at UCP Marjon yesterday, and met the media to talk about his exploits this summer – and about his future. After being the subject of speculation about a possible outbound transfer before he played for his country at the World Cup, he was asked whether he expected to remain with Argyle.

"I'm contracted here until the end of the season," the centre-forward replied. "One club – a foreign club – has come in for me, but I don't feel the Lord wants me to go."

Fallon's religious beliefs, as always, will play a big part in his football career. "I've always said that the Lord is the main man, and I'll wait on what he says," he added. "I don't feel I have a clear message to leave yet, so I'm staying.

"I'm instructed by the Lord. I keep telling people this, and people probably think I'm mad, but I know full well what I'm doing," Fallon said.

"When [former Argyle manager] Paul Sturrock came to the club, and he wanted me to go to Southend, I had a dream from the Lord, and he told me to stay with Plymouth. I've had no instructions since, no clear sign, so I'm staying until my contract is done."

New Zealand were expected to make their exit after the group stage of the World Cup, and they did, but they were far from the no-hopers that some folk had feared they might be.

They drew all three of their Group F games against Slovakia, 2006 winners Italy and Paraguay, and they finished above the hapless Italians in the section's final standings.

"We just wanted to give a good account of ourselves, and I think we did that," Fallon said. "We wanted to put New Zealand on the football map, and show that we can play."

If New Zealand had managed to win their third game, the 0-0 stalemate against Paraguay, they would have reached the last 16 of the tournament. When Fallon was asked if he looked back on the All Whites' campaign with total satisfaction or with a feeling of some disappointment, he replied: "For my part, there was some disappointment, because I always thought we could qualify for the next round.

"We were the only unbeaten team at the World Cup, and we were only one goal away from getting to the next round.

"We were close, but it wasn't meant to be. I had a blast, anyway. It was a magical experience."

Fallon made his mark in more ways than one in South Africa. At the end of the group stage, he had committed more fouls – 15 – than any other player at the tournament. Italy, in particular, felt the force of his physical style of play.

The Italian defenders made it plain that they did not take kindly to Fallon's rumbustious challenges for the ball. "I would have got away with it, winning headers that way, in England," he said, "but I just got on with it.

"I set off in that game to really shake up the Italian defence, and I think the first 15 minutes really showed that any team can beat a top team on any given day. We were close to winning that game."

Fallon also took the trouble to savour the entire experience of being in South Africa. When he was able to do so, he left the confines of the All Whites' luxurious resort and witnessed some slices of life on the other side of the tracks.

"When we were with the team, we were protected by a lot of security and we could not leave the estate. As soon as our World Cup was over, then I was able to do my own thing with Carly, my wife, and with the team manager, Phil Warbrick.

"We went to an orphanage outside Johannesburg, and we went to an orphanage and a refuge in Cape Town. It was brilliant to see what was going on behind the scenes.

"We were protected out there but, once you get away from all the security, you can open yourself up to what is really going on in South Africa. People are struggling there.

"I really wanted to embrace the African culture, and I did. It was amazing, and we have a lot of friends there now."

Fallon's World Cup adventure is in the past now, however. His priority is to prepare properly for another season of leading the line for the Pilgrims. It is routine work, but it will not be a hardship.

"You always know that you have to go back to club football, no matter what," he said.

"I always had it in my mind that I was going to enjoy the experience, and take it for what it was, but club football is my bread and butter. Nothing can ever take over that.

"It was tough, coming back to Plymouth, because you don't have that elation. Every day at the World Cup was a magical day, but you have to get down to work again."