2 weeks Ago
There is a new face in Northern Ireland's squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header against Belarus and Luxembourg. Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny has been called up to Michael O'Neill's panel for the League C3 games. Northern Ireland take on Belarus on Friday night at Windsor Park, before completing their campaign away to Luxembourg next Monday.
O'Neill has been hit with several injuries ahead of the finale, and has chosen to fast-track Devenny from the Under 21s to his senior ranks. Here's more info on Devenny. Devenny was born in Scotland but his mother hails from Northern Ireland.
Devenny featured for Kilmarnock who he joined in 2021, and then moved to Crystal Palace's academy in 2023. Devenny played for Kilmarnock, and during his time in Scotland he also had loan spells with Broomhill and Airdrie before making the move to Airdrie permanent. He then moved south to join Palace last year.
The midfielder has mainly featured for Crystal Palace's Under-21 development team, but this season he has been heavily involved in Oliver Glasner's first-team. And on Saturday (November 9) Devenny made his Premier League debut in the Eagles' 2–0 defeat against Fulham. Devenny has represented Northern Ireland at underage level and was a regular for Tommy Wright's Under-21s during their recent European Championship qualifying campaign.
He comes highly rated by Wright. According to , they say: "Devenny is a well-rounded midfielder, with a skillset that allows him to grab games by the scruff and implement his ability on the scoreline. A dynamic range of passing matched with an equally consistent workrate, Devenny is a player who will give his all for the team.
He has the ability to spot a pass before he’s received the ball, having great success this season with in-form striker Jemiah Umolu, whose runs are similar in fashion to those of Jean-Phillipe Mateta. " The NI boss said: "The number of players we have pushed through from the 21s in the past 12 months is extremely high and Justin has been on that pathway. Obviously Justin having made his Premier League debut has accelerated things and, with there not being a U21 camp in this international window, it's great to have him in.
We know what he is capable of, and it's a good opportunity for him." To remove this article -.
