“As a player, I think I’ve come a long way,” Devlin remarks. As a defensive midfielder, I was more one-dimensional overall in my game; I just kind of sat there. That was my role in the A-League, and I enjoyed it. I also believe that it is a huge strength of mine.

“You have to be more than one thing in order to improve as a player and earn a new contract with a major football club. I believe I have a very long way to go. Of course, I’ve matured since I first signed, but there’s always room for improvement. You’re always looking to improve and advance your skills.

“I feel like you guys are familiar with my personality and understand that I play with my heart on my sleeve every week. To improve as a player and help the squad as a whole, I step onto the training pitch each and every day. Our atmosphere is truly unique, in my opinion, but all you want to do is bring it onto the pitch and return the favour to the fans who come to see us play. You want your daily efforts to be recognised for the effort they are. I believe we have done so in the past, and it’s time to do so again this season.

Steven Naismith, the head coach of the Hearts, is the guy Devlin most credits with developing and refining his game. Encouragement to harness Devlin’s seemingly boundless energy to go farther forward has taken place on the training pitch. As so, he may now function both as a No. 6 and more like a conventional No. 8. The player is usually excited when asked how much Naismith has done to assist. Quite a bit, to be honest. I feel like I have nothing but good things to say about him,” Devlin says.

“To start with, as a man, and his staff, Frankie [McAvoy] and Gordie [Forrest]. As a manager, you could see, in my opinion, how my game improved from that boy who would only sit there, win the ball back, and keep the action moving ahead. Being versatile and able to play that or this position is what you should always strive for. I feel like I am now. I can produce and play at a higher position on the pitch.

Of course, I still want to score goals and dish out more assists. That’s undeniable, and it’s not something I’ve ever done professionally, so it takes time to happen. You put effort into it. You want to be that player the manager can rely on, so I’m working extremely hard to make that happen and become that versatile player that can be trusted as a six, as an eight, or as a ten.

He deserves a great deal of praise. I truly value all of the conversations we’ve had on the pitch, in his office, and when watching videos together. I feel that respect to stay in part because he has invested so much time and energy in me and has faith in me. That is truly something that I value.

“I have to accept some accountability for my actions. I adore following football games. At home, I watch football all the time. My significant other detests it, but I can’t stop watching it, and that’s how you heal. You observe the athletes you aspire to reach the same heights as. We have the good fortune to be playing against you in the World Cup as members of the national squad, where you

Every week, I study videos of myself and staff games, analysing both the things I clearly did well and the things I could have done differently. That’s how you get better. You replay your own game. You see guys in various positions and things like that, like the [English] Premier League.However, I believe that viewing your own game footage from earlier rounds is crucial to my goal of getting better.

Devlin spends a lot of time in front of the TV with certain individuals that play in his position. Growing up in Australia, he looked up to Steven Gerrard as his idol, but he also enjoyed watching an extremely stylish Italian midfielder. “Steven Gerrard is my all-time favourite player and the reason I picked up the game,” the player said. I’m not even close to being as good as he was. However, I felt that he had a forward play that I want to improve on because of the way he disrupted plays and kept the play moving in terms of his defensive play.

“He was creating so many opportunities and scoring so many goals.” I have always taken great satisfaction in his defensive abilities, and I genuinely enjoy seeing him play. Another player I really like seeing for PSG and Italy was Marco Verratti, who is currently playing in Qatar.I was in love with the way he performed as a midfielder in the game. In addition, even though I’m not quite as skilled as him, I still adore the way he plays the game and his diminutive stature.