When Messenger of Allah (may. peace be upon him) intended to set on an expedition he kept It as a secret, but. be did not do so in thic. expedition. And in the narration transmitted on the authority of Muhammad b. Abdullah b. Muslim, there is no mention of Abu Khaithana (Allah be pleased with him) and no mention of his meeting with Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ وَزَادَ فِيهِ عَلَى يُونُسَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَلَّمَا يُرِيدُ غَزْوَةً إِلاَّ وَرَّى بِغَيْرِهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ أَخِي الزُّهْرِيِّ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ وَلُحُوقَهُ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ