A Walsall FC star has been banned from the road for 10 days after being stopped by police for driving illegally.

First team player Troy Deeney was caught using a Renault Clio without third party insurance in April this year.

The 20-year-old appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to the charge.

The striker said he was driving his girlfriend’s car and did not realise he was not insured.

Along with the temporary ban District Judge Michael Morris also fined Deeney £520 along with ordering him to pay £60 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Miss Siobhan Wilkins, prosecuting, said the footballer was travelling along Bescot Crescent from the direction of the ground when stopped by police at around 1.30pm on April 28.

She said he appeared to be driving at speed and when asked to provide documents it showed he was insured as a named driver on his mother’s insurance and should not have been using the vehicle he was driving.

Deeney, who represented himself, told the court he thought he was covered by insurance and insisted it was a “mistake.”

District Judge Mr Morris decided against putting penalty points on his licence, which would have resulted in him taking an extended driving test, and ordered the 10 day disqualification and fine.

Deeney, of Birmingham, failed to make the grade at Aston Villa as a 15-year-old and joined non-League club, Chelmsley Town in the Midland Combination whilst also studying to become a qualified builder.

His prowess in front of goal alerted the attention of The Saddlers who brought him to the Banks’s Stadium, initially on trial, in December 2006.

He made his debut with a substitute appearance at Torquay and after a promising start to his career signed a contract extension in May 2007.

Deeney scored against West Bromwich Albion in a pre-season friendly last week.