Jacob Devaney: Man Utd kid making impact with St Mirren

"St Mirren came about really late," Devaney said of the deadline-day loan switch.

"There had been conversations with Travis [Binnion, who was in charge of United's youth teams] and Stephen Torpey, the head of academy, who said I'd had a really positive start to the season and thought the next step was to go out on loan.

"I had somewhere else lined up, which the club wanted me to pursue, but when I heard about St Mirren, it was an opportunity I wanted to take.

"I've grown up having an eye on the Scottish league and I thought it would be a great opportunity. I'm happy with how it's gone."

Family Irish connections tend to make Celtic of interest, so it is a pleasant coincidence the biggest away game Devaney has played in, and biggest standalone match, should come against Martin O'Neill's side.

Both games – in the Premiership and Scottish Cup semi-final – ended in defeat, the former by a single goal, the latter after extra-time, but, according to Devaney, there was a familiarity about the league game at Celtic Park.

"It was the first game where we were driving up to the stadium and it reminded me a lot of Old Trafford," he said.

"When I went to games there as a kid, you've got the stalls with the scarfs and there's hundreds of people outside the stadium watching you walk in.

"Playing in front of 60,000 is not something I had done before, but that was another thing that attracted me to this league.

"Once you get the first minute out the way and you've taken it all in, you blank it out. I've said that to my family, although they don't quite understand how you can do that.

"For the level I want to go and play at, playing in front of crowds like that is obviously going to help."

Jacob Devaney was called up by the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad in March [Getty Images]

Devaney spent the first quarter of the season in central defence at United before switching to his preferred central midfield slot.

He even started at full-back at times, which he believes is part of his United education.

"I see myself as a leader," he said. "If you put me anywhere on the pitch, I'd like to think I'd go and do a job.

"Coming into United as an under-nine, you play a bit of everywhere; centre-back, right-back, centre-midfield in my case.

"It's the way we are brought up, so we can all play in different positions."

Devaney stood out at under-21 level for his calmness in possession, his reading of the game, his ability to spot danger and speed in reacting to it.

He has had experiences of playing against senior teams in the EFL Trophy and National League Cup.

However, his St Mirren experience has taken him to another level.

"The game is so fast paced and there's a lot of transitions," he said.

"Despite the results, the mood in the dressing room has been really good and I have really enjoyed it.

"The loan has benefited me from a playing perspective. I really felt myself growing and putting my authority on the men's game."

Devaney has been growing off the field as well, to the extent he now makes his own meals – with guidance from his mum back home in Yorkshire – and has been keeping in touch with Binnion and United's under-18 coach, Darren Fletcher.

He is not quite sure what the future holds but hopes to be part of United's pre-season campaign, when a number of younger players will be needed due to World Cup calls.

"At the minute, my main focus is on these remaining games and keeping St Mirren in the league, where they should be," he said.

"But, if I am thinking ahead, those games in pre-season would definitely be something I would like to take part in.

"I feel I'm at a stage now where I do want to keep playing men's football because I feel I've proved I can do it.

"I believe that I can play for Man United. It's something I've worked at from being knee-high, when I first started kicking a ball."

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