Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran has challenged on-loan midfielder Larnell Cole to show he deserves an extended deal beyond January.
Cole joined the Highlanders on a temporary deal from English Championship side Fulham in August but has found first-team opportunities limited, making just three substitute appearances prior to his first start in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Aberdeen.
The former Manchester United player is due to return to his parent club in the new year but Foran says the opportunity of an extended stay is there for the 23-year-old if he can prove his worth in Caley Jags’ next seven games prior to the winter break.
Foran said: “Hopefully, we can get Larnell some game time and he can put in some performances before we can decide. It’s a bit early for that, I’m not sure yet.
“If he can get into the team and then perform to the level I’m looking for we’d be looking to keep him on.”
Englishman Cole was joined in the starting line-up against the Dons by fellow midfielder Aaron Doran, who had missed the previous 3-0 defeat to Celtic with a groin strain.
Foran has been impressed with Doran’s return to the side this term after spending 13 months on the sidelines with a knee injury and he reckons the Irishman will play a key part.
Foran added: “Aaron does his talking on the ball. He has looked great and he has that bit of composure in the final third and can go past a player.
“He can cross and he’s a goal threat. The only thing he probably can’t do is head the ball but we’re working on that.
“He looked really good against Hearts, so he probably was missed against Celtic. But if we wanted him to miss a game it would be Celtic away which we can treat as a bonus.
“He’s a top player and he is starting to show that again.”