Who is Justin Devenny?
Northern Irish midfielder Justin Devenny has been quietly establishing himself as one of the key figures in Crystal Palace’s Under-21s over the course of the last two seasons, and will now look to impress on the biggest stage of them all. Somewhat of an injury crisis has struck Palace’s midfield, and manager Oliver Glasner may turn to Devenny to play against Fulham later today.
Who is Justin Devenny?
Devenny joined Palace in 2023 from Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians, after progressing through the ranks at Kilmarnock. At twenty-one, he already has a fair amount of first team appearances, tallying up 54 appearances, playing a key role in The Diamonds' 2022/23 promotion winning season, Palace swooped in to sign a player they had been monitoring for some time.
He has since become one of the first names on the team sheet for the Under-21s, captaining the side on numerous occasions, and will be hoping to replicate his consistency at academy level if he is offered a chance in the Premier League.
What does he bring to the team?
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.
Whilst it's important not to pile pressure on young shoulders, Devenny will, if given the opportunity, be desperate to make a positive impact on the game and put his name into consideration for Glasner over the next few weeks.
Is he likely to play?
With the absences of Adam Wharton and Jefferson Lerma, along with Will Hughes’ suspension after accumulating five bookings, the options for Glasner are very slim. It is likely that we could see Marc Guehi adopt the defensive midfield position that he played against Aston Villa last season, and if the timing is right, Glasner may feel he can trust Devenny to enter the fray and impact the game.
Henry Swain
JOURNALIST (ACADEMY)
A season ticket holder from the age of 5 to 18, Henry is as passionate a Palace fan as you’re likely to find. Enjoying the finer details of football, it’s the players that go under the radar that catch his attention. He watches every Palace game there is and has a keen passion for academy football. When he’s not watching or talking about football, Henry can be found binging a Netflix series or losing games on FIFA.
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