Caley Thistle manager John Hughes has challenged forward Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo to grasp his opportunity in the side after finally getting off the mark for the Highlanders.
Mbuyi-Mutombo has predominantly been used as a substitute since joining the Highlanders from French Division 3 side Frejus-Saint-Raphael in the summer but scored his first goal for Inverness in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup.
Hughes’ attacking options are limited, having lost new signing Alex Fisher to an ankle injury which will keep him out for up to two months, while Ryan Christie has returned to parent club Celtic after a loan spell.
Hughes is keen to add another forward before the transfer deadline on February 1 but in the meantime he hopes Congolese international Mbuyi-Mutombo will flourish after finding the path to goal.
The Inverness manager said: “I think he’s got a lot more to come.
“I still think he’s got to get fitter. His passing has to be better. He wants to hog the ball a little bit, which is great, but it’s not the Andrea Mutombo show.
“We’re a team. In the final third, if he wants to go and beat people he’s got licence to go and express himself.
“He’s got more skill than most of us at this club. He just needs to use it in the right areas.
“I’m delighted for him. That goal will give him the confidence to go and be the player.”
Caley Jags host Partick Thistle in the Premiership today, with a “pay what you can” initiative on offer for supporters of both teams.
Inverness have not fared well against Thistle recently, having not beaten Alan Archibald’s side on league duty since a 1-0 victory at Caledonian Stadium in March 2014.
Hughes is determined to put an end to his side’s recent struggles against the Maryhill outfit and added: “Partick Thistle always seem to give us problems. People talk about bogy teams and we always find it difficult against them.
“It’s been very close this year, we lost to a really scrappy goal down at Firhill.
“The two teams are very close and I’m looking forward to it.”