Could on-loan Saints striker Chris Kane return to Dunfermline?

The on-loan St Johnstone forward signed off his temporary stint at KDM Group East End Park by netting a brace in Athletic's final Championship match of the campaign, a 3-3 draw at Ayr United, and said afterwards that he isn't sure what his future holds.

The 29-year-old arrived in February and, in a productive spell with the Pars, has netted five goals in 10 appearances, helping them pull clear of relegation danger and finish sixth in the table.

With his contract at McDiarmid Park up at the end of the season, Kane said he will "see what happens" in the summer - and that he could yet be seen again in a black and white shirt.

When asked if there had been any discussions with Dunfermline for next season, Kane replied: "Nothing really yet.

"He (manager James McPake) has told me that he would like me to be here. I have enjoyed my time, it is a great club so we will see what happens in the summer.

"When I first came in we were down towards the bottom of the league, but there were loads of injuries. The manager told me boys were coming back, so there weren’t any real big worries. Whatever happens next year, if I end up here, I’m sure the manager will recruit well and it will be an exciting league.

"I have really enjoyed it.

"I came to play, I came to prove my fitness and I have done that so I want to thank the manager, the backroom staff and everyone at Dunfermline for giving me the opportunity. I am out of contract now and we will see what happens in the summer.

Chris Kane signed off with a double at Ayr United on Friday evening. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"I have to wait and see. I have come and proved that I’m fit. I had a bad injury but I’m back now and I can play. Obviously I will have a bit of time off with my family and then we will take it from there."

Kane came through the youth ranks at Saints and, aside from his Pars loan, and similar spells with Dumbarton and Queen of the South as a younger player, has spent his entire career with the Perth club.

He's made 244 appearances for them, and won the Scottish Cup and League Cup in 2021, but spent more than 12 months out between January 2022 and last May because of a serious knee injury.

"I knew that I was fit because I came back at St Johnstone and started playing a few games," Kane continued.

"Then Craig Levein came in, and he wanted to bring fresh faces in, but that’s football. I knew that I was fit, I just had to come and play.

"The manager said that if I come I will play. He has kept his word and I am thankful that I have managed to stay fit and notched a few goals. That makes things a bit better.

"I have not been told that I’m not being kept on (at St Johnstone). I'm out of contract and I have not been contacted yet. I'm sure that I will get a phone call soon. If they want to keep me. we will obviously speak about it.

"I have really enjoyed my time there. I left school to join when I was 15. I am pushing on thirty now so I have really enjoyed my 14 years there.

"If I do leave, it will be a sad time, but that’s football. Things move on and I might just have to do that. I will thank them but I will wait until I find out what actually happens and take it from there."

Wherever Kane's future lies, he was happy to sign off with a couple of goals in front of the travelling Pars fans at Somerset, adding: "Obviously I want to score as many as I can so I’m glad that I got a double there.

"A hat-trick would have been nicer but you can’t complain with two."