Michael Kenrick 01/01/2026 12comments  |  Jump to last

With Everton's squad massively depleted, David Moyes has acted quickly to bring back Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell with Preston North End.

The 18-year-old midfielder has had a good half-season at Deepdale, making 17 appearances in the Championship for since he joined the Lilywhites on transfer deadline day in the summer. He should now be available for selection to David Moyes's heavily depleted squad for Sunday's Premier League game with Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

After joining Everton’s Academy aged 5, Armstrong worked his way up through the age groups and made his senior debut against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2024. He was well-liked by the Rams in his first loan spell with Derby County last season, playing a key role in helping them avoid relegation from the Championship.

Armstrong is a central midfielder who has developed a reputation as a highly composed and physically imposing "modern" Number 8. Standing at 185 cm (6'-1"), he possesses a blend of technical security and defensive grit that has made him a standout during his loan spells.

While he is versatile enough to play as a defensive midfielder or even in a more advanced attacking midfield role, he shows great potential as a deep-lying box-to-box playmaker. It appears likely that his main competition when it comes to getting playing time under David Moyes will be Merlin Rohl.

 

Reader Comments (12)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:23:20
See if he actually gets used... or just sits warming the bench.

Coz, you know the problem: He's not ready for the Premier League.

Dave Abrahams
2 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:29:47
I certainly hope he gets used but not at the expense of Garner going to full back.

Is it possible he can go back to Preston this season when our depleted squad is strengthened?

Jimmy Carr
3 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:36:32
Michael (1) so you don't trust Moyes' footballing judgement?

The facts of our performance under his leadership, 59 points from 38 games and currently 8th in the table, suggests to me he knows exactly what he's doing.

So tell me where you think it's gone wrong exactly?

John Williams
4 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:37:13
Football today is a squad game and you can only have eleven players on the pitch at any time.

Armstrong is 18 years old and he is not a Wayne Rooney, not played all the games for Preston (he was subbed in the last game).

He will be an option, something we don't have at present, I just hope it doesn't signal, no new players coming in January.

Barry McNally
5 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:48:48
Dave 2, I don't see why he couldn't go back to PNE before the window slams shut - he can't go to a third club as Everton used him earlier in the season.
Tony Abrahams
6 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:51:58
I'm sure I've read that Harrison Armstrong can be recalled for one month and go back to Preston before the window shuts (I might be wrong), which if true has probably made the decision to recall him a lot easier.

I keep going on about squad rotation, something I do because August to May is a very long time. I wouldn't even be too critical if Armstrong never played that much because he's an 18-year-old kid performing very well in the Championship. But it's a very long season, especially for players so young, and the physical demands are incredible.

Barry McNally
7 Posted 01/01/2026 at 11:00:34
Tony, it will be a nice mid-season break for him!
Brian Harrison
8 Posted 01/01/2026 at 11:01:34
I think Moyes was reluctant to cut short Harrison Armstrong's loan as he was a regular for Preston and getting good experience. Moyes wouldn't tell the press what injuries Keane and Alcaraz had to keep them out of the squad for the Forest game, so maybe the injury to Alcaraz and the fact that Senegal have progressed to the next round of the AFCON made him recall Armstrong. I could well expect if we had a couple of injuries to midfield and Moyes hadnt recalled Armstrong there would be plenty of posters on here giving him stick.
Tony Abrahams
9 Posted 01/01/2026 at 11:08:18
It could go one of a few ways Barry, but that’s exactly what I was alluding to mate!
Annika Herbert
10 Posted 01/01/2026 at 11:33:34
Jimmy @ 3, you only need to look at Moyes record in his previous stint to know what Michael is getting at.

The infamous glass ceiling etc,etc. Personally I think he has done reasonable well since he returned. But leopards never change their spots.

He will.always be a safety first manager. Before anyone leaps in to remind me of all the top 10 finished achieved under Moyes first time around. Not impressed.

Annika Herbert
11 Posted 01/01/2026 at 11:33:35
Jimmy @ 3, you only need to look at Moyes record in his previous stint to know what Michael is getting at.

The infamous glass ceiling etc,etc. Personally I think he has done reasonable well since he returned. But leopards never change their spots.

He will.always be a safety first manager. Before anyone leaps in to remind me of all the top 10 finished achieved under Moyes first time around. Not impressed.

James Marshall
12 Posted 01/01/2026 at 12:01:04
This was bound to happen wasn't it? We need numbers and signings are going to be very thin on the ground, so this is in itself, like a new signing!

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