Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin admits he was forced to rush Andy Ryan back to action last week but hopes his return from a knee injury will bring out the best in the players around him.
The striker had been sidelined for close to three months with a knee injury and was surprisingly named on the bench for Saturday's trip to Morton.
But when Accies found themselves 3-0 down inside 23 minutes at Cappielow, John-Pierre Tiehi was sacrificed to make way for Ryan's return ahead of schedule.
Rankin's men still went down 5-0 in Greenock but he is relieved to see his striker back and hopes with the 28-year-old - who has also been assisting the coaching team - back in contention, it will push the rest of the club's strikers amid a run of three defeats without scoring.
Rankin said: "Chucky wasn't ready to play on Saturday. He had only trained for a couple of days but it was a case of needs must at Morton.
"At the time in the game I wasn't happy with what was happening on the pitch and we needed somebody with a bit of leadership in that area.
"I thought he came on and fought his corner, worked hard and got more than double the minutes we would have anticipated.
"Being 3-0 down and you look and you see Chucky there and the qualities he has, it was a case that he needed to go on and help.
"He is a proven goalscorer at this level throughout his career and having his experience, and desire and hunger to score goals becomes important.
"Not only that, he knows the game and those leadership qualities.
"On Saturday he had a chance and it was cleared off the line, but the important thing is he is in those areas.
"The disappointing thing is it was another game without a goal for us, but having him around the other strikers, he is pushing people for places, keeping them on edge.
"They know they aren't guaranteed a place in the team so it becomes hugely important for the squad as a whole to get him back."
Midfielder Miko Virtanen fell into the same category as Ryan after 10 months out and Rankin added: "Miko got more minutes than we anticipated as well.
"He had only trained for four days and hadn't trained since January, but we had to throw him on.
"But again it was a good build-up for him."
Meanwhile, Accies still have a host of players on the sidelines and Rankin offered updates on Reagan Thomson, Marley Redfern, Jamie Hamilton and Lucas de Bolle, who is being handled with care amid a recurrence of concussion symptoms.
"Lucas has not been on the training pitch since he came back from the Scotland camp. He is still following concussion protocols and we need to be patient," said Rankin.
"Jamie Hamilton [calf] isn't on the pitch yet either.
"Reagan Thomson is back training but in terms of fitness he is a good bit away and he is not in a condition to go and be involved in any games yet.
"The one who is making the most progress is Marley, but he hasn't joined in training yet. He has looked after himself since he's been out, but in terms of his condition he is looking ready to go and join in training again soon.
"That will be big with his pace and energy.
"It's frustrating but it's not a sob story.
"That's a few players who would make a massive impact, but we just have to get the heads down with the players we do have, work hard to make them better and more difficult to beat, with a greater hunger and desire to score goals.
"I think that's what was missing on Saturday - that edge.
"The 11 that started the game and the four that came on, we needed so much more."
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