Northern Ireland legend Stuart Dallas hailed Terry Devlin’s attitude for putting tough times behind him to become an important player for both club and country after scoring the winner in Saturday’s Nations League triumph over Ukraine.

A fellow Cookstown native, Dallas has followed Devlin’s career progression closely through the Irish League at Dungannon Swifts and Glentoran before earning a high-profile move across the water to Portsmouth.

While the 23-year-old has now established his spot in Pompey’s team and swept their ‘Player of the Year’ awards last season, it hasn’t always been plain sailing for Devlin at Fratton Park.

Devlin had to bide his time for an opportunity – and also had to switch position, transitioning from midfield to right-back under John Mousinho.

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Terry Devlin celebrates his goal. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

He’s now receiving deserved rewards for his commitment and dedication, not only for Portsmouth – where Michael O’Neill revealed he’s “in the process of signing a new contract” – but also on the international stage.

Devlin brought his Northern Ireland cap tally to eight on Saturday, registering a memorable first goal with an effort from distance to send O’Neill’s men into a final Nations League showdown against Hungary sitting top of their League B group.

"For Terry Devlin to get the goal...I'm delighted for him because he has worked so hard to get the opportunity to play,” said Dallas on BBC. “He got his chance and to cap it off with a goal is incredible.

"Terry has scored some goals from outside of the box for his club and when it comes to him, the keeper doesn't even move. It's something they worked on.

"I'm really pleased for Terry, his journey through the Irish League, across to Portsmouth.

"I remember when Portsmouth got promoted, their first game was at Elland Road against Leeds and Terry came on as a sub. I spoke to him after the game and he was on such a high because his career had just gone in an upward trajectory.

"After that he went through a difficult spell where he wasn't playing as much and I remember going in with the (Northern Ireland) 21s with Tommy Wright when Terry wasn't playing, he was out of the squad, and he didn't quite know his right position or where the manager saw him.

"He has knuckled down since then, got himself back in the team, he almost got a move in the summer with Portsmouth turning clubs away.

"You can see the emotion in his eyes when he's talking, it's a big night for him. He's a Cookstown lad as well!”

Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer David Healy is another who has witnessed Devlin’s rapid rise, coming up against him as a teenager during his days playing against Linfield for the Swifts and ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran.

"It's brilliant for Terry, a young lad coming through at Dungannon, I watched him when he was 15 or 16,” said Healy. “Glentoran took a little bit of a chance bringing him in and he has found his way to full-time football.

"It's a special night for Terry, a special night for everybody.”