Strong chance Harrison Armstrong returns to Everton this winter

Unfortunate, but necessary.

The experience Armstrong is gaining in helping power Preston into the Championship playoff positions is priceless, and a full season would have been ideal, but the fact is we need him now.

It will be the last resort for Moyes to bring back Harrison and disrupt his progress. Even with injuries there Jimmy, Tim, Merlin who can play in midfield, I just do not see him returning in January.

It's no secret also that Everton have always been interested in Connor Gallagher, if he returns to the Premier League and tries and get into the England squad, then I can see us bidding for him.

It would be a shame to disrupt the progress Armstrong is making at Preston, last resort to bring him back surely.

It will depend on whether we can add to midfield early in January. Conor Gallagher would be great but the fee and his wages almost certainly make that unlikely.

Don't bet against Kalvin Phillips, a Moyes-type player, if he can get a tune out of him where others have failed.

We have talent in midfield when all are available -- but maybe not as solid as it should be to get into the Top 6 and stay there.

We all need to see more of what Rohl, Dibling and this lad Armstrong can bring to the table but, unless the strike force can be improved, the efforts of other players will fall on stoney ground.

What we have seen from Beto, Barry, and the other midfielder Iroegbunam has been less than impressive so far. Garner is a tireless worker but may be more of a help to the team as a right-back in the absence of any new signing this season.

Yes, the absence of Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye against the Gunners was a big factor in Everton's performance but may not have changed the eventual result against the best team in the Premier League.

The holiday period is a chance to get a few points in order to keep the mid-table position at least... but Moyes must have the guts to change things up.

New TW writer in - stating the bleedin obvious shocker!

Not only are we short of effort, application and guile, we're short of actual midfield bodies. Now nobody knows how good Armstrong might become in the future, but right now he's doing a decent job in a decent league.

its not an easy decision to make, maybe it's borderline short term-ism but it's worth a phone call to the Preston manager... "I know you don't want to lose him" ( if true, that in itself more or less answers the question) -- "but will he do a job for me?"

There's nothing wrong with a little Christmas fairytale magic either.

Derek #5,

He's not new...

Is McCall suggesting we just take him back for January and then pass him back when we get our players back from Afcon?

It was very good that Garner played right-back and was a candidate for MotM. Jake O'Brien was centre-back and was MotM, and Dewsbury-Hall was in midfield (not Number 10), and was a MotM contender.

The whole side looks better with O'Brien at centre-back and Garner at full-back. Moyes does love a square peg in a round hole though...

Oh,.. the OP...

Maybe Armstrong could come back in as a Number 10 until Moyes trusts him further back, and Dewsbury-Hall and Ireogbunam could be the deeper?

Dear God Ian (3), Kalvin dodo Phillips. I had pushed him deep into the cobwebs of my mind. Even had to pop on Wiki to see where he is now. Still at City, stealing a living.

But you're right Ian and you have scared the living daylights out of me. This could be something Moyes and the crack recruitment team might be considering. And we fill things out with Ward-Prowse on loan. Sorted. Meanwhile, Harrison is called back and makes a string of appearances as a late sub for Phillips.

Another sleepless night beckons.

Seems to me you take it match by match. The next 4 are all winnable. If we can grab at least 4 points from the next 2, you keep Armstrong where he is.

If we take 7 from those 4, I think you can weather the storm until Senegal's run comes to an end at Afcon. All of this assumes Dewsbury-Hall is out at least a few more weeks, which is likely.

None of it is ideal for the cup match against Sunderland, but you have to leave the young man at Preston NE if at all possible.

Depending on the terms, from what I can tell, it's possible we can recall him for a few weeks and send him back on loan by the end of January.

The big benefit of bringing Armstrong back is that he has enjoyed game time this season.

Dibling, Rohl and Aznou have spent the entire season on the bench due to the manager's selection decisions and are not ready as a result.

I'm going all Les Mis...

Bring him home.

Steve,

Brother Carey told me that Harrison will be a bench-warmer if he comes back, playing second fiddle to whatever loans we can get. We have two left in England, don't we? Wow, that's crack recruitment for you.

I misread the headline at first.

I thought it read ' Strong chance that Harrison returns to Everton this winter'.

Panic over