Caley Thistle club captain Richie Foran says he is already preparing for moving into management but remains determined to make an impact on the field in the meantime.
After recovering from a long-term knee injury, Foran made his first appearance since September in Inverness’ 2-0 win against Stirling Albion in Tuesday’s Scottish Cup replay at Caledonian Stadium, coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute.
Foran has not started a match in nearly two years, since Caley Jags’ 2-1 defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice in March 2014.
The veteran midfielder says he is now fully fit and, although he has one eye on life after his playing career, he is primarily focused on making a contribution on the park before he retires.
Foran said: “Management is a direction I want to go in. I already have my B licence and I’m heading to do the A licence, so that’s my plans for the future.
“I’m 35 and who knows how many years, months or days I have left playing, so it’s something I am looking to.
“I’m 100% good to go and ready to start, though. I’ll just keep my head down and try and impress the manager in training.
“Hopefully, I can get a start sooner rather than later because no player is happy sitting on the bench no matter what age they are.
“I want to start every week and I am going to fight every day in training to make sure I get into that team.”
Foran has assisted manager John Hughes with various backroom tasks during his absence from the playing field and the former Motherwell player says the experience will stand him in good stead should be ultimately step into the dugout himself.
He added: “The time out could prove invaluable from what I’ve learned being in the manager’s office a lot trying to help him out, letting him know how the players are feeling.
“We have been bouncing off each other a lot over the last two years. I have learned a lot from him and I’ll take that into my management style if I do management.
“I have seen how hard the manager’s job is. I have learned a lot by just listening and watching him. He’s in there from seven in the morning till seven at night with the poor two coaches that have to be in there with him.
“He’s meticulous with his planning, everything, the paperwork he goes through. He leaves nothing to chance, so I’ve learned a lot regarding tactics and shape. He’s an excellent coach.”