IAN MURRAY says he is "99% certain" he will lose strike star Chris Kane to parent club St Johnstone next month.

The Perth kid continued his superb form for Dumbarton on Saturday as he netted the only goal of the game to give the Sons a crucial win at Alloa.

Kane is due to return to the Saints in a few weeks, where he will look to become part of Tommy Wright's plans and make his mark in the Premiership.

But Rock boss Murray has not ruled out making a third loan swoop for the forward if he again finds himself out of the picture at McDiarmid Park.

He said: "We had no money left in the summer but when Kano became available we managed to scrape enough together to do the deal.

"If it had been anyone else, we wouldn't have done it. But we knew what we were getting from him and we were delighted to get him back.

"We hope he has developed enough to go and play for St Johnstone and time will tell. If he finds himself out of the plans come March or April then hopefully we can get him back again.

"I think it is 99% certain that he will go back, unless they go on an incredible run and he is surplus to requirements again.

"I think he will go back but there might be a time where he isn't happy getting a few minutes off the bench and wants to play regularly.

"If that is the case then we will see what we can do. I fully expect him to go back there and be involved. After what he has done for us he deserves his chance."

Kane has made a crucial contribution in the final third during his two Sons stints and was once again the goal hero on ­Saturday as he shot down the Wasps.

Victory for Dumbarton keeps them nine points clear of bottom-placed Livingston and five ahead of ninth-placed Cowdenbeath in the Championship.

Murray said: "It was a really important win for us. If Alloa had beaten us then they would have gone above us.

"We have done ok against the teams round about us, Livingston, Cowdenbeath and Alloa, so it was good to get another win.

"I know the games against Hibs, Hearts and Rangers are big occasions but it is the games against the other teams that will determine where we finish this season."