Devaney, 18, spoke to BBC Sport ahead of St Mirren's final two matches of the season, a period in which the Paisley club must overcome a four-point deficit to Kilmarnock to preserve their top-flight status. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international joined on a deadline-day loan in February after going against the club's wishes to pursue the move.
He was candid about why he wanted Scotland over the alternative.
"I had somewhere else lined up, which the club wanted me to pursue, but when I heard about St Mirren, it was an opportunity I wanted to take. I've grown up having an eye on the Scottish league and I thought it would be a great opportunity. I'm happy with how it's gone."
He has made 13 starts for the club under two managers — former head coach Stephen Robinson and interim Craig McLeish — and described the pace of the Scottish game as a genuine step up from Under-21 football.
"The game is so fast paced and there's a lot of transitions. Despite the results, the mood in the dressing room has been really good. The loan has benefited me from a playing perspective. I really felt myself growing and putting my authority on the men's game."
His biggest occasion came at Celtic Park, playing in front of 60,000 supporters in a game he said reminded him of matchdays at Old Trafford from a different vantage point.
"It was the first game where we were driving up to the stadium and it reminded me a lot of Old Trafford. When I went to games there as a kid, you've got the stalls with the scarfs and there's hundreds of people outside the stadium watching you walk in. Once you get the first minute out the way and you've taken it all in, you blank it out. For the level I want to go and play at, playing in front of crowds like that is obviously going to help."
Devaney was named Manchester United Youth Scholar of the Year in May 2025 and has trained with the first team under both Rubén Amorim and Michael Carrick. Multiple Premier League and European clubs are understood to have observed his progress in Scotland, with United aware of the growing interest.
He wants preseason to make his case.
"I believe that I can play for Man United. It's something I've worked at from being knee-high, when I first started kicking a ball. Those games in pre-season would definitely be something I would like to take part in."