DEVLIN’S IN DETAIL THE Mikey Watch me prove cap doubters wrong
So it was no surprise the Aberdeen centre- back spoke so eloquently about Scotland’s shortcomings last week after defeat by Russia.
Devlin knows he’s not a first-pick centre-back for Steve Clarke.
Pittodrie pal Scott McKenna, Hearts’ John Souttar and Leeds United’s Liam Cooper are probably all ahead of him in the pecking order.
And it won’t have escaped Devlin’s attention that his initial call-up was treated with derision among some Scotland supporters.
A quick social media check would have confirmed to him a rhetoric along the lines of: ‘How can he get picked for his country when he’s not even getting a game for his club?’
Devlin will have expected that type of flak.
But it won’t stop the 26-year-old from trying to prove them wrong.
He knows that for Clarke to start him in next month’s double-header against Cyprus and Kazakhstan, he’ll need to be playing for Aberdeen.
Hopefully next to his flat-mate McKenna as Scotland desperately try to find a solid defensive partnership.
That would be the perfect scenario for Devlin.
It was a memorable week for the Dons star and his family after he won his first two caps against the Russians and San Marino.
But Devlin is intelligent enough to know that, after battling back to full fitness, the hard work starts now if he is to stay there.
He said: “I hope, in time, getting my first cap in the Russia game is something I can look back and be proud of.
“But as a central defender I need to take responsibility for my part in a disappointing 4- 0 defeat.
“I was proud to get the chance. And my family were there watching the San Marino game.
“Hopefully that winning feeling at Hampden will be my lasting memory from my first involvement in the Scotland team.
“The team haven’t had any luck in terms of consistency and continuity of guys playing at the back. There have been good performances from Scott, Liam, Charlie Mulgrew, who is still a top player and a brilliant servant to Scotland.
“Then there’s myself, John, David Bates and Stuart Findlay who have all played.
“You just have to show the manager that he can trust you if you’re given another chance.
“I’ve no doubt the manager will pick the best players for the next set of games.
“Hopefully Scott is back fit and playing, Liam could be back as well. That might give the manager a headache but it will be a good one.
“I know that getting chances at international level normally comes off the back of high-level, consistent performances for your club.
“So that’s my priority.
“You have to do your job at club level then it’s a bonus to be selected for your country.”
Devlin had lots of well-wishers before his debut in Moscow but two of the most important messages arrived from the Granite City.
Midway through his recovery from a knee injury picked up as a Hamilton Accies player, Dons boss Derek McInnes offered him a pre-contract deal at Pittodrie.
He has spent every day since trying to repay his manager’s faith.
And a good luck text from his mate McKenna – who’s now back fit – was a reminder that if they can rekindle their partnership at club level, it could be replicated for Scotland.
Dev lin said :“If there’ s one person I need to thank, it’s the gaffer at Aberdeen.
“He signed me six months into my rehab at Hamilton – that showed real faith.
“It has been a bit stop-start for me at Aberdeen but when I get opportunities l ike playing for Scotland, it’s in my mind that I wouldn’t get them if I hadn’t been signed by a club like that.
“The manager sent me a text me saying I deserved my chance. Small things like that make a difference.
“And if Scott and I get the chance to play together, it would be great.
“We haven’t done it for our club so far this season. Last year we had a good thing going but injury stopped it for both of us.
“We need to focus on playing for Aberdeen but if that transfers into international football then it would be brilliant.
“Scott wished me all the best before I made my Scotland debut and even said he was proud of me – which was a first!
“No one’s an automatic pick but Scott has everything needed to play at the top level of the game.
“He’s shown already how good he can is for Scotland. If he’s in the squad, you’d want him in the team.
“I expect him to get even better, the more games he plays.”
And Devlin feels that’s the case for him as well.
Certainly, as painful as it was at the time, he’ s convinced that his duel with Russian powerhouse Artem Dzyubaw ill help him improve.
He said: “Russia had good payers but so did we so that gulf shouldn’t have been there in that game.
“It was difficult but I’ll have to learn from it. If I use Dzyu baas the benchmark and I can reach that standard in terms of competing, I will do well at international level. If you can match guys of that ilk, you’ll do OK.
“He was top quality and Aleksandr Golovin was even better. I probably won’t play against better players all season.
“It was a good learning curve but a harsh lesson.
“When I looked back at the game, there were things I noticed myself doing because players of that quality force you into it.
“But it was a fantastic experience and it will improve me as a player.”