The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Kane’s mission to secure Pars’ survival – and his own future
Chris Kane hopes successfully helping haul Dunfermline away from relegation trouble can secure his future back at St Johnstone – or elsewhere.
The Saints cup double winner joined the Pars on loan for the rest of the season last week and made his bow on Saturday.
He made an instant impression and almost marked his first outing for the Fifers with a goal when he struck the post in injury-time in the 1-1 draw with Arbroath.
It was a debut of promise from the experienced striker, who has been plagued by injury troubles in recent seasons and has penned two six-month contracts to keep him at McDiarmid Park this term.
With first-team gametime likely to be limited with the Perth outfit, the 29-year-old pushed for a loan to get minutes under his belt – and to prove he was worthy of a new deal when his agreement expires this summer.
So, he admits it was encouraging to hear Saints manager Craig Levein leave the door open for another contract extension with the club where he has spent his whole senior career.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill, he said: “It was nice for him (Levein) to say that about me. But it was my choice to come out on loan. It wasn’t that he sent me out on loan.
“Sometimes if a manager sends you out on loan then you think you’re not wanted.
“But it was me. I said, ‘I need games’. We’ve got a lot of strikers, I wasn’t getting game-time, so it was my choice to come out. Ideally, he wanted to keep me, but I wouldn’t have played many minutes there.
“I might have played a couple of games here and there. But that’s not enough for me to prove maybe I can get a contract for next season.
“So, if I come here, do well and score some goals, then maybe he’ll think I merit a contract for next season.
“If not, so be it and hopefully things can happen elsewhere.”
He added: “I’ve played for Saints for over 10 years now. I know that you’re always going to be in a fight.”