Hibs boss John Collins admits they're likely to lose left-back David Murphy.

Collins remains hopeful he will keep Murphy for the rest of the season but accepts he will almost certainly be sold before his current contract runs out in the summer of 2010.

"David has said he would like to go back down south at some stage," said Collins, "and he won't be here until his contract runs out. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract and that's a long time in football.

"If the lad keeps playing as well as he has been doing, then he will attract attention and speculation. That's the business we are in. But we don't want to lose him in January."