It was February 2022 when Justin Devenny found himself sitting on the Airdrie bench wondering where his young career was heading. Fast forward just three and a half years later, the former Killie kid had to stop for a second as he clambered his way to the top of the Wembley steps to ask himself just how he’d made it quite so far. The trouble for Steve Clarke and Scotland is that the chance to rewind the tape and claim the 21-year-old Crystal Palace ace for the nation of his birth has come and gone. Born in Irvine and raised at Rugby Park, Devenny has taken not so much taken the scenic route to the Premier League and an FA Cup winners’ medal as a 500-mile detour. The starting point was the Kilmarnock academy but with first-team opportunities out of reach, his first stopover was a brief loan stint at Lowland League outfit Broomhill. From there he headed to the Excelsior Stadium, first on loan with the Diamonds before signing permanently. A mere 54 appearances in League One was all the evidence Palace needed to spot his top flight potential - something he has fulfilled this year with 23 appearances in the best league in the world. His talent was so clear to Michael O’Neill that the Northern Ireland boss opted to cap the dynamic midfielder last November before Scotland could realise their mistake. Overlooked by a succession of SFA age group coaches, he’s now on course to become a regular for club and country - just not the one where he grew up. Asked if he had any regrets about opting for a green jersey over a dark blue one, Devenny said in his Ayrshire accent: “Well, Northern Ireland showed their trust first. “They showed their trust and they believed in me before Scotland did. “Was that loyalty, that show of faith important to me? Yeah, exactly. You want to play for a team that want you but it's been great since I came in here. I'm just happy to be playing. “I qualify through my mum, my gran, that side of the family. They were all here on Tuesday so it was good. “Representing that family heritage is special to me. That's kind of where it all started! “For me to be playing for Northern Ireland, it's a great, great feeling.” Just as good was that moment of euphoria as the final whistle blew at Wembley last month. Devenny may have been an unused sub as Eberechi Eze’s winner sealed victory over Manchester City and with it the Eagles first-ever major trophy but he celebrated the triumph as wildly as any of the men who started for Oliver Glasner’s side. Reflecting on the journey that has taken him being a Diamond benchwarmer to Palace’s silver-winning squad, he said: “Well when you say it like that, it's been amazing. “My route in football has been an upward spiral but I had to dig deep with the low moments and thankfully I've got the rewards. “It's just gone from strength to strength this season and next season I'll be hoping for more. “At Wembley it was amazing. You're walking up the Wembley steps and you're like, ‘Wow, I can't believe this is me’. “But I thought we deserved it to be fair. Throughout the year we worked so hard as a team and I think at the time I was just enjoying the celebrations. "But now I can look back and be like, ‘Wow, it's a great achievement and I'm grateful for it'. “It is important to reflect on where you came from but even when I was at Airdrie, no matter what was happening I had that belief in myself. "I was always striving to get to the top. Whether I thought I'd get there so quickly, I don't know. But it's been amazing for me and I just hope for more. “To have played 23 times in the Premier League this season is incredible. That's what I mean. I just need to reflect and say, ‘If you’d told me that a year ago or told me that two years ago I'd probably have laughed’. “But again, it's just about being confident when you get the chance and I feel like when I've had the chance before then I've grabbed it with both hands. I think that's what you need to do, especially as a young player breaking through.” A year in the Palace Under-23 squad was the perfect transition ground. And he’s looked more and more settled in Glasner’s side since being handed his Premier League debut in a Selhurst Park defeat to Fulham last November. “Once you're in that environment that's you,” he said. “You try and feel at home almost. “The boys have been great as well. You see that quality straight away when you come in. “But that's when I need to believe in myself and believe in my own quality. "But the step up has almost been effortless just because of the group. It's been such a good group at Palace and the boys are all helpful, all humble and that's what you need. “You don't know what to expect and when you've got such a good group, it helps a lot.” Glasner has been key to his development too. Devenny appreciates the opportunities he’s been given this year - and made sure to do as he was told on international duty last week. “What did he tell me before joining up with Northern Ireland? Don’t get injured! “He obviously wants the best for me as well and he wants me to get as many minutes as I can. “He doesn't want me injured coming back for him. But I think he knows as well it's such a great opportunity for me to try and show what I can do in terms of getting more minutes and stuff. If I do well then I'm almost coming back to Palace with a point to prove.”