John Hughes, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager, expects Richie Foran to succeed him at the club.

Hughes has little intention of handing over the reigns just yet, having led the Highland club into third place in the SPFL Premiership. But the manager has seen the potential of Foran during training sessions, at which the experienced Irish forward is helping to coach the first team during his recovery from a knee injury.

He has found encouragement from Hughes, too, with the Inverness manager eager to keep the forward involved with the squad while he is sidelined.

"Richie was out on the training pitch today and we want him to get more into the coaching side of things - it's vital when you've got that chance," said Hughes, whose side face Dundee United tomorrow afternoon.

"Equally, though, we have to be careful because he's still got a rehab to do. I'll say one thing: Richie Foran is going to be the manager of Inverness one day. And if I can help him along the way to get his coaching badges and become the coach he can be, I certainly want to play my part.

"Right at this moment in time, he's still got a part to play on the park and I've said before, to us, losing him this season has been the equivalent of Celtic losing Scott Brown.

"That is Richie at this football club - he is a huge influence."