Crystal Palace Under-21s prospects Justin Devenny and Danny Imray featured in the second-half against Bodø/Glimt – their first appearances in a matchday squad at the club. Here’s everything you need to know about them and their careers in red and blue so far…
Justin Devenny joined Palace in August 2023 from Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians. He came through the ranks at Kilmarnock before moving to the Diamonds on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022.
He made 54 appearances for Airdrie over two seasons, notching five goals and seven assists. During their 2022/23 promotion-winning campaign, Devenny played 41 times, scoring in the penalty shootout of the League One play-off final against Hamilton Academical.
Devenny scored his first goal for Palace in a 6-2 win against Middlesbrough U21s in the Premier League Cup in September 2023. He also notched two assists that evening.
The midfielder earned a call up to the Northern Ireland U21s side for the first time in October 2023 and made his debut against Serbia U21s.
Prior to this afternoon’s game against Bodø/Glimt, Devenny had made 23 appearances for the U21s this season, notching three goals and three assists so far.
Danny Imray joined Palace in February 2021 from Chelmsford City. After spending much of his early career at No. 10 – where he scored 23 goals in just 11 matches for Chelmsford Under-18s – Imray moved to full-back, where he continues to be a danger coming forwards.
He made his full debut for Chelmsford against Concord in 2020 in the Essex Cup quarter-final. After signing for Palace, he joined up with Shaun Derry’s Under-23s side and started his first game at Selhurst Park in their victory over Burnley.
In 2021/22, Imray went back to Chelmsford City on loan, where he made 14 appearances and scored a single goal against Dulwich Hamlet.
Imray returned to the Under-21s side in 22/23, making 24 appearances in all competitions while notching three assists as he helped the side to the Premier League International Cup final.
He extended his stay in south London at the end of the 22/23 campaign. He scored his first goal of 2023/24 after coming off the bench against Ipswich Town U21s in the Premier League Cup in November 2023.
The right-back added a further goal against reigning Premier League 2 champions Manchester City U21s in December 2023 - a venomous strike from inside the box. In January 2024, he netted twice in two games as he helped the side to wins against Birmingham City U21s and Brighton & Hove Albion U21s.
In February 2024, he scored his fifth and sixth goal of the season in the Premier League International Cup quarter-final against Wolverhampton Wanderers. His sixth was a well-taken looping finish over the head of the goalkeeper which was nominated for Crystal Palace's Goal of the Month in February.
His strong form continued into March 2024, as he scored in the 3-2 win against Leicester City to send Palace through to the Premier League Cup quarter-finals and also against Stoke City in the Premier League 2.
So far, before facing Bodø/Glimt, he has eight goals and six assists in 28 games for the U21s.
