Richie Foran is facing a make-or-break summer as he strives to complete his Caley Thistle comeback.
That is the view of manager John Hughes, who yesterday admitted the former Motherwell and Carlisle midfielder would not kick a ball again this season.
The 34-year-old Inverness club captain has not played competitively since suffering a shattering knee injury in a 2-1 defeat by Dundee United on March 26 last year.
Foran’s leadership and will-to-win has had Hughes comparing his importance at Caley Thistle to that of Scott Brown at Celtic.
But with the Dubliner suffering several setbacks en route to recovery, some doubters have been suggesting Foran is finished at Premiership level.
Hughes begs to differ but admits the Irishman faces a huge close season in his fight to return.
As well as the knee treatment and operation, Foran has been struggling with a painful shoulder injury sustained against Aberdeen way back on December 21, 2013.
The Caley Thistle manager said: “I don’t think Richie is going to play again this season.
“As I’ve said before, losing Richie Foran is to Inverness like Celtic losing Scott Brown, who I think has been the best midfielder in Scotland this year.
“He isn’t finished, not by any means, but what Richie has ahead of him is a massive pre-season.
“I feel for him. Only Richie, with that strength of character, could go through what he has had to go through – getting back and breaking down and getting back – and yet remain so positive.
“He’s had to get the knee drained and, on top of all that, he’s now going about with a sling having finally agreed to have an operation on his shoulder.
“He hurt his shoulder against Aberdeen, at Christmas the season before, and it has never been right since but, Richie being Richie, said ‘forget that, let’s get going’.
“I would back him to return next season but, without putting too much pressure on him, it’s a big pre-season.”
Hughes believes the key to the veteran’s recovery will be more hard work before the squad reassembles for pre-season.
He stressed: “What you will probably find Richie will do is work very hard with the physio and, hopefully, get pain free with his shoulder and injury free with the knee.
“Then I’d imagine he will start his own build-up so that when he hits this coming pre-season he is in the groove. And then only pre-season will tell.”