They say don't fall in love with a loan player.
Here for a matter of weeks or months and then gone. They move on to bigger clubs, better leagues, and we become a footnote in their Wikipedia page.
Then one day you're seven pints deep at a wedding and someone you've been seated next to against your will says magic words like "James Maddison, Aberdeen", "Jay Rodriguez, Stirling Albion" or "Kasper Schmeichel, Falkirk" that sets you off. We all have our examples.
Don't fall in love with a loan player. Sound advice, of course. But frankly there aren't enough Barry from Eastenders "we're gonna do it anyway" gifs for how much I'm going to enjoy Jacob Devaney's time at St Mirren.
The 18-year-old Manchester United and Republic of Ireland Under-21 midfielder arrived in Paisley on deadline day and made his debut 24 hours later against league leaders Hearts.
Man of the match in a 1-0 win. Seventy minutes of composure, maturity and the kind of calmness that suggested he'd been here for months rather than a single Tuesday afternoon. Passing accurately, winning his battles, pressing intelligently. And earning the foul that got Craig Halkett sent off – not a bad first impression.
Then came Friday's cup tie at Airdrie. Nineteenth minute, Mikael Mandron flicks it round the corner, and Devaney curls it into the top corner like he's been doing this his whole life.
The kind of finish that immediately sends social media to the Paul Scholes comparison well. Beautiful technique. We won 2-1 in extra time and he was the story again – partly because that goal was genuinely brilliant, partly because the rest of the game was absolutely dire.
The reality is, he'll go back to Man United in the summer and every indication points to him having a career there. Michael Carrick values youth – we've seen it with Shea Lacey, Ayden Heaven, multiple Fletchers. And Devaney is exactly what United need.
A midfielder who doesn't panic, who receives the ball in tight spaces and plays his way out. Six months in Scottish football will give him that education – physical battles, hostile crowds, teams who'll switch from kicking you to pressing you to playing through you at the flip of a switch.
That's for later, though. Right now he's in the black and white of St Mirren. Quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup to look forward to. A league table to start climbing. Every week he's here is another week we get to watch what he brings.
Which means in 10 years' time we'll all be in the replies to Man United tweets being weird about his time in Paisley. Insisting he learned it all here. Replying to every career milestone with "well actually…". The "bring him home" pleas as he enters the twilight of his career. We'll be those fans. The ones who won't shut up about six months in 2026.
For now though, we'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Andrew Christie can be found at Misery Hunters
