Robbie Deas determined to learn from self-inflicted season-opening absences

Kilmarnock defender Robbie Deas returns from suspension against Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday with a new view on discipline.

The 25-year-old missed the opening day of the Premiership season for the second successive year due to suspension, having been sent off against Motherwell in the first half of the final game of the last campaign.

Deas watched Killie draw 2-2 with Livingston – where George Stanger was sent off for Stuart Kettlewell’s men – and he is looking forward to facing Hibs with a new mindset.

The former Inverness player said: “I only found out maybe 48 hours before the game that I wasn’t eligible, so I was disappointed.

“That’s the last two years I’ve missed the opening game down to my own doing so it’s a lesson learnt and it was tough watching the game on Saturday. I felt pretty helpless so I’m really looking forward to this game.”

Asked what lessons he has learned, Deas said: “Maybe picking my moments to be as aggressive as I can be.

“When I look back at the sending-off against Motherwell at the end of last season, it was a bit more last-ditch and sometimes I can be like that. Whereas if I let Lennon Miller go through, he either has a chance of scoring or not, but I’m still on the pitch to make a difference.

“If I make a tackle or take him out, I’m off the pitch for the last 70 minutes and I put the team in a position with 10 men. So it’s just moments like that.

“I’ve spoken to coaches about it, I’ve spoken to my dad about it, different people and it’s just all learning for me, but I feel like I’m in a better position now where I know what I’m going to do.”

After starting off their league campaign with a 2-1 win at Dundee, Hibs beat Partizan Belgrade 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier in Serbia on Thursday night.

Boss David Gray is looking for his side to dig deep again against Killie.

He said: “It is a quick turnaround again. When you look at the Dundee game, the challenge that came with that, the quick turnaround, players need to rest, recover as quickly as they can.

“It certainly helps having a positive result and performance (on Thursday). Your legs definitely don’t feel as bad.

“It’s all about the mentality. The players are fit, they’re strong, they’re ready for it. We’ve got a good squad.

“We’ll just have to make sure everyone’s come through the game and everybody gets rested and recovered for a tough test at home.”