Jacob Devaney made his minutes count during pre-season appearance for Manchester United against Rosenborg.
After Jacob Devaney shone against Wrexham in the second-half, expectations were high for how he would handle Rosenborg.
Well, Manchester United beat Rosenborg 5-0, and Devaney was on the pitch for three of those goals, scoring one himself and once again putting in a flawless performance, adding further undeniability to his case to play regularly this season.
Devaney has outlined his desire to play for United, and to achieve this under Michael Carrick, he has a lot of competition in the form of Dan Gore, Tyler Fletcher, and others. But the Irishman has a key advantage over his peers.
Which Manchester United academy star impressed you the most vs Rosenborg?
Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass and Ethan Williams all scored, but there were so many impressive performances!
Jacob Devaney has manifested his own Manchester United breakthrough
Devaney has been pretty consistent in his determination to make it at United. Speaking while on loan at St Mirren, Devaney voiced his ambition to play for United’s first-team and that everything he is doing is a means to that end.
By publicly declaring his intentions, Devaney isn’t hiding, and United will be very clear on how he must be handled.
To state lofty targets and then back it up with some really impressive performances under Michael Carrick during pre-season, Devaney is moving from prospect to contender.
This is an advantage he has over his peers: the confidence to say what he wants and then put in the performances to take it.
Devaney also has an advantage in that, unlike his rivals for that academy midfield role, he has the experience of playing top-flight football already, at St Mirren.
This saw him play at Celtic Park in front of a sold-out stadium, which is an experience that will be vital when it comes to walking out at Old Trafford for the first time.
Mentally, Devaney is all there. He is a leader already, has a balanced head on his shoulders, and his work ethic is admirable even for more senior professionals.
What is your INSTANT REACTION as Manchester United beat Rosenborg 5-0
Who impressed you most and why?
Jacob Devaney should be part of Michael Carrick’s next wave of pre-season
In the coming week, United should see a host of players return from their extended summer breaks due to World Cup involvement. The effect of this is that there will be fewer academy players on tour.
But a handful have made themselves too good to drop; Devaney is one of them. Carrick couldn’t have asked for much more from the versatile 19-year-old, and he should continue with the senior squad.
Another loan wouldn’t be the end of the world for Devaney; he has already voiced his openness to doing this if needed. But he’s done enough to prove he has lots to offer Carrick this season.
Whether that is his versatility, athleticism, or being an unlikely goal threat in the box, United need a squad, and right now Devaney could very easily play a role in this and rack up 15-20 appearances during the 2026/27 campaign, likely across a handful of positions.
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