Jacob Devaney, the 19-year-old midfielder from Manchester United, made his Hibs debut and is eagerly anticipating the Edinburgh Derby against Hearts.
The football world is buzzing with the news of Jacob Devaney’s exciting start with Hibernian. The 19-year-old midfielder on loan from Manchester United has quickly made an impact since joining the Scottish club last Sunday. His debut at Dens Park against St Mirren was a memorable one, with Hibs securing a 2-1 victory.
Devaney’s journey to Hibs has been one of anticipation and eagerness. After spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign with St Mirren he was eager to return to Scottish football. However, his signing coincided with Hibs’ UEFA Conference League play-off round tie against Gent meaning he couldn’t be registered for that match.
This delay only heightened his excitement for his debut.
Devaney’s Impressive Debut and Team Spirit
Devaney’s first appearance for Hibs was nothing short of spectacular. He described his debut as ‘worth the wait’ and expressed his joy in being part of the team.
‘I really enjoyed the game,’ he said. ‘Obviously, I’ve been in the building since Monday, so it was quite a long build-up for me, obviously not being able to play in the game on Thursday, but it was definitely worth the wait and I really enjoyed it.’
The young midfielder also praised his teammates and the ‘I’ve really enjoyed being in and around the training facility and the build-up to the game on Thursday,’ he added. ‘Obviously, I was gutted I couldn’t play and I was at the game, but I think I’ll have a really good time here and I’ll really enjoy it.’
Reflecting on the match, Devaney highlighted the team’s resilience and determination. ‘I thought the lads played really well on Thursday, and I feel like we brought a lot of the positives from Thursday into today. We wanted to show people how good of a team we are, and I think we showed that at times today.’
The Edinburgh Derby: A Major Attraction
One of the main attractions for Devaney in joining Hibs was the prospect of experiencing the Edinburgh Derby firsthand. Having only ever watched the derby on television, he is thrilled at the opportunity to be part of this historic rivalry. ‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ he said. ‘I’ve only ever watched the Edinburgh Derby on TV, but that was definitely a big attraction for me. Coming to Hibs was to be a part of the Derby, and yeah, I’m looking forward to it.’
Devaney is eager to gain insights from his teammates about the derby atmosphere. ‘I’m sure I’ll get a real good insight from now until Thursday,’ he mentioned. ‘It should be a good atmosphere. Obviously, I’ve got a good glimpse of what the fans can be like on Thursday. Walking out, the fans were amazing. It was a real goosebumps moment, the first five or ten minutes, knowing that I could potentially be playing in front of the fans on Thursday.’
Ambitions and Goals for the Season
Looking ahead, Devaney has set lofty ambitions for his loan spell at Hibs. He aims to gain more experience and achieve success with the team. ‘Just more experience and a bit of success as well,’ he stated. ‘I feel like coming in, having a week with the lads, I think we’ve got a real good bunch of people, staff and players as well. I feel like we can really achieve something this year and hopefully alongside getting games, we can be successful and win something.’
Devaney also emphasized the importance of the Edinburgh Derby and the team’s potential. ‘I feel like it’s a massive club in Scotland, and a team, and a group of people that can push for success this year. Keep grinding out three points in the league and hopefully have a good two cup runs as well.’
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Jacob Devaney and his contributions to Hibs. His excitement and determination are palpable, and fans are eager to see him in action, especially in the highly anticipated Edinburgh Derby against Hearts.
