It wasn't Deasy getting back to the top

Scrapping in lower leagues helped former Hoops starlet Robbie seal deal with Killie

- MICHAEL GANNON

ROBBIE DEAS went from being a pampered youth at Parkhead to a cracked conk at Cowdenbeath.

But the Kilmarnock new boy reckons his career detour down the divisions has toughened him up for a shot at the Premiership.

Deas was snapped up this summer from Inverness after working his way back to the top following his departure from Celtic as a kid.

The 23-year-old scored the winner against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup Final in 2019-but it was spells on loan at Cowden and then Alloa that prepared him for the big time.

Deas said: "I've had to work to get where I am now. I went on loan at a young age.

"I went to Cowdenbeath when I was young and I remember some other players saying I was too good for that level. But you don't realise how tough the leagues are and some have found out later in their careers how hard it can be.

"There are a lot of good players down the leagues and it's a massive learning experience.