Justin Devenny is having the time of his life.
Three weeks after helping Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup for the first time in our history – scoring against Doncaster Rovers en route to the final – the 21-year-old is winning acclaim at international level as well.
The 21-year-old collected his fourth senior cap for Northern Ireland – and recorded back-to-back starts for his country for the first time in his career – in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Denmark in Copenhagen, being voted Player of the Match.
Deployed in unfamiliar surroundings on the left side of midfield, the versatile youngster impressed with his tenacity, energy and creativity, playing a huge role in his nation's opening goal with a burst of pace to win the ball high, and then a wicked cross which eventually went in via Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Devenny reflected: "It was a new position for me, but I enjoyed it. Wherever I play for the team, I'm willing to do a shift.
"It was maybe the second day that [Northern Ireland manager] Michael [O’Neill] told me he was thinking of playing me there, and we did a few bits and bobs in training.
“I thought I did well, and then when he told me I'd be starting, I tried to understand the position a bit more. To be fair, I'm familiar with it from Palace as well. I know the roles and responsibilities of it and it's just putting that into place.
"I enjoy it. It’s a different experience for me. There's probably a bit more high-speed running. I was able to get on the ball and try to understand the runs from my team-mates and try to pick them out.
"I thought first-half I did well, and in the second-half there was a lot of work off the ball, but you have to be prepared to do that in international football.”
On his role in the goal, Devenny noted: “You have to be aggressive when there is a chance to win the ball. I’d seen it, and took off and intercepted it.
"I saw the goal and was going to shoot, but squared it across, and thankfully it went in."
Devenny’s dream season – in which he has not only cemented himself as a senior Crystal Palace and Premier League midfielder and goalscorer, but also won silverware and international acclaim – looks set to end on yet another high.
"I'm loving it,” he smiled. "Northern Ireland showed trust in me, and since I've come in that's my fourth game.
“The lads are brilliant and the coaching staff are brilliant. I want to learn and improve.
"I haven't started at Windsor [Park] yet. I came on [as a substitute] against Switzerland, so hopefully I'll get a start [against Iceland on Tuesday]. It's a special atmosphere and the fans are great, so I can't wait for that."
And on the FA Cup Final win: "Now, it has probably sunk in, but at the time I was in shock! It was such a big achievement at such a young age.
“I'll probably look back on my career in times to come and think of that day. It was special, and to do it with a special group of boys was great.
“It's positive after positive. That's what I want to do with my career: take the next step, and then the next step after that.
"Hopefully there will be some opportunities to come for me.”
Northern Ireland v Iceland