Cammy Devlin is not a good watcher of football. Not when Heart of Midlothian are playing and he isn't on the pitch.
That should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched him play. An effervescent bundle of energy and enthusiasm. The pitch provides a release for all of that.
Instead, he has had to make do with a seat in the stands. Or, more specifically, for home games, in the seats behind the dugout.
In key games, in key moments, Devlin, alongside Lawrence Shankland and other unavailable players, has been seen celebrating and encouraging .
He is the first to hold his hands up, however, being a fan is not for him.
"Our job is to play football, so when that’s taken away, it’s so hard. I’ve found it really tough being away from it all, especially with the position we’re in this season—you just want to help," Devlin said.
"When we’ve won, you can see from the videos that me and the boys have enjoyed it. You want to see your mates doing well, winning games, especially when you’re not out there. But I’d have loved it a lot more if I was playing."
He added: "Honestly, I can't explain it. I've actually been saying that at home to my girlfriend. I don't know how fans be fans, because I'm so sick of it. And that's only after a few games!
"I've really been a Hearts fan for the past couple of months, and I've enjoyed it when we've won. But I found it really hard. I just don't like watching.
"You've obviously got no control over what's going on. I can kind of see why fans get so angry at some games now!
"I want to be out there helping my mates and you just can't beat as a footballer being out there, win, loss or draw."
Devlin has "tried to be amongst it in other ways" to get his "voice across". It has involved arriving early on matchdays to be "a friend and support the boys".
"I think it's a team game. There's no way, especially at Hearts, that one player, a couple of players, is going to do something special this year. It's a whole group, we've shown throughout the whole season," he said.
"When boys have come out, boys that have come in have all taken their chance, in my opinion, and really given the manager selection headaches. And that's what it's about. I've said all along, if we want to do something, you need more than 12, 13 players. I think everyone's kind of played their part in one way or another.
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"From the stands, you can see things that maybe you can't see on the pitch. I know when I'm playing and when someone's not playing, they'll come and speak to me and say, well, maybe do this. So just trying to do that, support the boys.
"When we've lost games, get around them, send text messages, these kinds of things, which don't seem like much, but it's just my way of trying to stay involved and get around the boys that are playing.
"And then, when we win, just celebrate as if I was out there playing as well, because it's just so important and I think we've done really well.
"You just don't want to be up in the stand ever."
The injury itself was innocuous. It was right at the end of the 2-0 win over St Mirren . Buddies midfielder Killian Phillips fell onto Devlin's ankle.
Straight away, he knew he was in trouble, having suffered a similar injury on the other leg against Kilmarnock earlier in his Hearts career.
Not only did Devlin fear the worst in terms of the season and helping Hearts win a title, but there is also the prospect of the World Cup in the summer with Australia.
"It was the last kick of the game and I didn't even do the usual thing when I'd go flying in. I was just kind of standing there and the boy fell on me. So when it happened, I thought, this ain't good, because you just get a feeling when you get hurt," he said.
"I've been quite fortunate not to have too many things happen to me, especially with the way I play and that sort of thing.
"I remember my mum and dad were here. That was the last game they were watching me play as well. So I remember going home, a few tears and whatnot with them, and just thinking, this ain't good.
"With the position that we're still in, we were in at the time, obviously not knowing what the future holds and the World Cup at the end of the season, these are things that we're thinking about every single day. I'm no different to anyone else, whenever something like that happens, you do fear the worst. And I did.
"Obviously, my results weren't as bad as they possibly could have been . But it's been a niggly one that just hasn't got better as quick as I'd like. But I'm feeling really good now.
"I just want to focus on what I can control now, and that's being back with the boys and hopefully performing well."
Devlin is "really glad" that his rehab process is over because "there's nothing like being out there".
Unsurprisingly, he confirmed that he's "probably been a bit annoying" for the medical staff, such was his eagerness to return.
"I’m just desperate to be out there. I tried to come back too early, but I’ve learned that the injury tells you when it’s ready. Time really is the best healer," he said.
"It’s been tough because all I want to do is play football. But having the boys around me has helped, and now we’re on the other side of it."
Devlin simply cannot wait to run across the white line, ideally on Saturday afternoon against Dundee.
That came across during some behind-the-scenes footage Hearts put out from training this week.
📍 Oriam
Behind the scenes at training as Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland return 👇 pic.twitter.com/uUhue1DI2R— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) March 19, 2026
And it came across when he spoke with the press. The first thing he said - after a discussion about the weather being perfect for a round of golf - was that he was "really happy to be back in the mix... I think you can probably tell by the smile on my face".
He admitted it has been a tough period. In fact, in the first couple of weeks, he revealed he barely said a word when he came into rehab, something that is unlike him. It prompted Lawrence Shankland to reach out to him and make sure he was alright.
"To be fair to Shanks, he's been so good in his rehab. He's probably dealt with it a bit better than me. I think I come in here for two weeks and didn't say one word, and he was texting me at night asking if I was all right," Devlin said.
"He's been class with all the boys, just being positive. So is everyone. Just coming in, being around your mates in the gym, I think being in there alone would be pretty tough at times. So having your mates around you always helps."
Devlin and Shankland were close team-mates before injury, but getting injured around the same time and having the same return-to-play timeline has allowed them to grow closer.
So much so that Devlin revealed their respective partners have joked they are now boyfriends.
He said: "We've kind of always had our eyes set on this sort of time. So yeah, he's been unreal. We were close already, but his wife and my girlfriend were making fun of us, saying that we're boyfriends now!
"We've really bonded over this time in terms of just trying to help each other on, push each other. But that's the same with, like I say, Stu Finlay, Stephen Kingsley, Calem Nieuwenhof, Finlay Pollock."
Devlin's return could coincide with Foundation Day and a possible triple or quadruple celebration. FOH reaching the £20 million milestone, Devlin and Shankland back in action and bouncing back to extend their lead, even for a few hours, at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Aussie midfielder hailed the Foundation and the Hearts fans for such a landmark.
"Kind of sums Hearts up as a club, if I'm honest. When I come in here as a 22- or 23-year-old, you learn as you go about what this club means to so many people. I've been here so long now, I understand what the football club's all about," he said.
"The fact that the Foundation of Hearts has raised £20 million to have this club mean what it means to so many people is so special. That is one of the things that makes Hearts such a special club.
"Obviously, there's so much history and tradition about Hearts. You see, when you're on the streets and people come up to you and talk about Hearts and a memory they have, and you can just see how much it means to people. That's so special to be a part of from the other side of the world.
"I would have never imagined being part of such a great club, a club that has been so good to me as well.
"The Foundation of Hearts is a great thing for the football club, something that everyone that's played should be so proud of. If you support Hearts, that's something that you're super proud of as a fan, as a person. To be a part of that club is super special.
"For all of us, we're super fortunate to be here in the first place. To get a win on Foundation of Hearts weekend would be super special."
