Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin has told injured star Andy Ryan to get on the spinach to speed up his recovery - and revealed the striker is proving a great asset to the coaching ranks in the meantime.
Talisman Ryan has been ruled out until at least October after suffering a knee fracture during Hamilton's 1-1 draw with Morton on the opening day of the Championship season in July.
But that hasn't stopped him playing an integral part in Hamilton's run of just one defeat in their first five matches this season.
The 27-year-old, now in his second spell at the club, has been helping Rankin and his No.2 Darian MacKinnon since his spell on the sidelines was confirmed and is enjoying learning the ropes as he plans for the future.
Rankin is keen to get him back in his starting line-up and wants him to do everything he can to do that, but he's not so sure his star man can stomach the diet he has in mind.
He said: "Chucky's [Ryan's] injury is a broken bone. It just takes time to heal.
"Sometimes they heal quickly, sometimes they don't.
"I've already be on at him to get on the spinach, the kale, the broccoli and all the greens so hopefully he gets back quicker.
"But I don't think Chucky likes that sort of food so we might be a bit delayed with him!
"He's struggling with his knee at the moment but having somebody with his influence around the dressing room and a game on a Saturday is hugely important for the players.
"I have to get his personality as well as the demands he will put on people in there, and it's an extra pair of hands and a different voice on a Saturday and will help us progress.
"Chucky is one of our most important experienced players.
"It's a shame he can't help us on the pitch at the moment but he can certainly do it off the pitch.
"He's got a good footballing brain. He sees it through similar eyes to us and he's been great.
"He's also helping with the 14s and 16s as well now.
"We had run a pre-season game with Clyde and that kind of opened his eyes, not just in speaking to senior players but also being able to speak in a way that young people understand and how you break things down.
"He is now thinking about that coaching side and I love that from him.
"He's is still only 27 but thinking about the next stage in his career."
Meanwhile, Accies face a sweat over another striker for tomorrow's clash at Cove Rangers with Frenchman Jean-Pierre Tiehi touch and go.
He came off injured at half-time of Saturday's 1-0 win over Arbroath after taking a blow to his back towards the end of the first half.
And Rankin said: "JP is struggling for Saturday.
"He is toiling. It was a knee to the back so there is a bit of a nerve issue there but hopefully he comes through.
"We might need to make a late decision on him.
"Apart from that, everybody else is fine. The boys already out injured are making progress but they won't be back."
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