Harrison Armstrong will have a lot of eyes on him this month after he returned to Everton from his loan spell at Preston North End.
The midfielder returned to the club at the start of the month, with David Moyes missing a number of first-team players at the moment.
Harrison Armstrong had been enjoying a productive spell at Deepdale, having played 17 times for the Championship side.
How did you think Harrison Armstrong played vs Wolves? 🧐
But Moyes moved to recall the teenager – and Armstrong has already made a few appearances for the Toffees.
And against Wolves, he was given his first start in the Premier League – and he impressed.
Moyes has previously said that he’d like for Armstrong to return to Preston on loan once he has players back.
But Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom gave an interesting take on the situation.
Paul Heckingbottom outlines Harrison Armstrong situation after first Premier League start for Everton
Armstrong is a player Everton obviously have very high hopes for, and this is now a really crucial period for the youngster.
He is currently on trial effectively, even though Moyes has spoken of sending him back to Preston.
It’s been a positive return so far and there is already clamour from supporters for him to remain at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the rest of the campaign.
And that is something even Paul Heckingbottom wants to see, with the Preston boss issuing an update on the situation last night.
He said: “From our point of view and my point of view, Harrison’s job is to get in the Everton team and stay there. But I also think we’re involved in the process with David and Everton and Harrison where the decision is about what’s best for Harrison over the longer piece.
“I’ve no doubt David would want him there and he’d get game time between now and the end of the season, he’s a good player. But I think it’s a bit bigger than that. It’s what’s going to put Harrison in the best position come the start of next season for Everton. We’re an option for them in that respect.
“It’s valuable experience and he’s enjoyed his time here. How we play, it’s a different role for him. Obviously David is seeing him play a lot now as well so. We can offer him a lot, but then if Everton can offer him that then he’ll stay there.”
A massive few weeks for Armstrong
Heckingbottom is clearly keen for Armstrong to live up to his billing, and it was nice to hear him say it’s the youngster’s ‘job’ to get into Everton’s team. He obviously wants that for him.
But we will see who he ends up spending the second half of the season with.
It’s been a positive return so far, but one gets the feeling that he’ll need to show an upward trajectory from the Wolves game to convince Moyes to keep him around.
The fact he was doing well at Preston will obviously be in the Scot’s thinking, as will the fact that he’ll have players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gana Gueye returning soon.
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