David Moyes names biggest factor in dilemma over Harrison Armstrong’s immediate Everton future
David Moyes is a fan of Harrison Armstrong but is pondering whether his development might be better served by returning on loan to Preston North End once Everton’s squad has been bolstered by returning players
06:00, 26 Jan 2026Updated 14:22, 26 Jan 2026
Harrison Armstrong of Everton looks on at full-time following the Premier League win over Aston Villa. Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images(Image: )
The decision over Harrison Armstrong’s immediate future will be defined what Everton manager David Moyes thinks is best for the teenager’s development.
The 19-year-old delivered what Moyes viewed as his best performance for the Everton first team as he helped an injury-hit side to an impressive 1-0 win at Premier League title chasers Aston Villa last weekend.
It was a display that suggested the midfielder is ready for the challenges of the top flight but, with players returning from injury, suspension and the Africa Cup of Nations, the Blues boss wants to ensure Armstrong spends as much of the second half of the campaign on the pitch as possible – something that may pave the way for a return to Preston North End.
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The England youth international was recalled from his loan spell at Deepdale at the start of the year as Moyes dealt with a selection crisis.
Armstrong, who turned 19 last Monday, has started the last two senior games – the FA Cup defeat to Sunderland and the victory at Villa Park – and produced good displays on both occasions.
Reflecting on his impact in the Villa success, Moyes said: “Harrison had his best game for us. I thought that he had an impact in the game which he hadn’t had really in the other games, but neither did the team, because we hadn’t performed. We played better against Aston Villa than we had in the other games but I was impressed by Harrison, he did well.”
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Moyes had highlighted the academy product in the immediate aftermath of the match and, days later, was still singing his praises.
He told reporters in the embargoed section of his press conference at Finch Farm on Friday, however, that he would still like to send him back to the Championship if he was able to.
The potential for that might open up in the coming weeks with Everton’s dressing room set to become more congested.
Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye have now returned from their AFCON triumph with Senegal while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz and Jarrad Branthwaite are all due to return from injury in the coming games.
Seamus Coleman, another long-term absentee, made it onto the bench last week while Michael Keane’s three-game ban will come to an end after the home game with Leeds United tonight (Monday).
With Merlin Rohl now showing signs he might be settling into life on Merseyside after his summer move – he too was excellent at Villa – even with the devastating news of Jack Grealish’s injury, Armstrong will soon find himself competing with Gueye, Alcaraz and Dewsbury-Hall as well as James Garner and Rohl, who he started alongside last week, for a spot in the first team. Tim Iroegbunam will also be in the mix when he returns from injury.
Against that backdrop, Moyes is open to the idea of sending Armstrong back to Preston, where he had become a first-team regular under Paul Heckingbottom.
Explaining the dilemma he is facing over Armstrong’s situation for the rest of the season, the Scot said: “We’ll see what comes around but I think the big thing for me is Harrison [might] get a chance to probably play another 20 games for a club that are probably going to be in the play-offs in the Championship.
“That for a 19-year-old is really, really big and important. If you look at the player’s development, we’ve got to watch that we don’t make the wrong decision because we are saying ‘let’s have him around here’.
“I don’t really want him sitting on the bench for me when I think he could be playing.”
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