Everton have been famed for their academy production over the past few decades, but due to financial restrictions, that process has been somewhat scuppered.
After all, instead of breeding players for the first team, those with any kind of talent have instead been swiftly shipped out for a quick and easy way to offset PSR.
It is not in the spirit of the game at all, but such is the Premier League‘s questionable rules, needs must.
However, with that pressure having been alleviated somewhat, things are looking up. Perhaps now the Toffees can actually start looking into their youth setup with the hope that they will save them a fortune not through a big sale but instead by starring in their own first team.
Sean Dyche has his eye caught by Everton teenager
Following a pretty uneventful international break, aside from England appointing Thomas Tuchel, the Liverpool ECHO sought to provide a rundown on Everton’s academy and its top performers.
After all, the Toffees are famed for their youth production, and given their newfound financial stability, the first team might actually be able to benefit from their brilliance.
One teenager midfielder in particular has caught the eye of Everton manager Sean Dyche though, as the report reads: ‘Headline-maker Harrison Armstrong has had the highest-profile breakthrough, the 17-year-old fast-tracked during pre-season after capturing the eye of Sean Dyche, who has advocated for him behind the scenes and rewarded him with first team experience.
‘Armstrong’s progress was recognised with a late call-up to England’s Under-18s for a tournament in Spain this month.
‘The box-to-box midfielder was a second-half substitute in a 3-1 win over Ukraine on Monday, just days after starting in a defeat to Sweden.’
How good is Everton academy star Harrison Armstrong?
Born in West Derby, and having joined the Toffees at the age of just five, this combative midfield maestro is exactly the kind of player that Evertonians love to see.
A born and bred blue, who is living out every fan’s fantasy, he has more than enough talent to go alongside his desire to become a first-team regular on Merseyside.
Having already made his first senior appearance, and modelling himself off Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, it’s clear that Harrison Armstrong is well-rated around Goodison Park.
That would explain why, after impressing in pre-season, even scoring in the club’s 6-0 rout of Motherwell, he went on to make his Premier League debut away at Tottenham Hotspur.
Forced to play out on the wing on occasion, but largely a box-to-box midfielder who loves to join the attack, his creativity and attacking impetus could be just what the Toffees need in the coming years.
It certainly won’t help his case that he has been with the club for over a decade now.
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