Harrison Armstrong was excellent on loan at Derby County last season and is battling for a place in the Everton first-team squad
DERBY, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Harrison Armstrong of Derby County applauds the fans as he warms up prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County FC and Luton Town FC at Pride Park on April 18, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Harrison Armstrong applauds the fans as he warms up prior to the Championship match between Derby County and Luton Town at Pride Park on April 18, 2025
(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Harrison Armstrong may not have the luxury of easing himself into pre-season at Everton. These early days of summer training feel crucial for the youngster.
The Blues are in the midst of a pre-season in which major surgery will take place on the squad. Plenty of new faces will arrive, meaning that the squad that begins the new campaign will be hugely different to the one that returned to Finch Farm this week.
So for those involved who could be viewed to have their future at the club in limbo - be it in terms of a loan move or a permanent departure - these days could be decisive.
In the case of Armstrong, David Moyes was aware of his talents early in his second Everton tenure.
"I remember Leon Osman went out on loan to Carlisle and Derby and Harrison has now gone to Derby," said the Everton boss back in February.
"Leon Osman came back from Derby, ready to get in the first team. He’d been a talented young player, I remember watching him in the games when he played up front quite often at that time.
"I hope Harrison is on a similar journey and becomes a great player for us. It’s just the start for him and hope that he gets the best part of 10, 12 games then hopefully by the summer, we'll see how he's looking then."
At Derby, Armstrong surpassed Moyes' expectations. He eventually turned out 15 times for the Rams, making 12 starts.
He scored one goal and was crucial in the team avoiding relegation, turning in a number of excellent all-round displays.
"Don't underestimate the calibre of player Armstrong is going up against in the second tier," Derby supporter Richard Cusack told the ECHO back in March. "He's been playing a midfield three next to Ebou Adams, Derby's captain and an experienced campaigner, and 22 year-old Liam Thompson.
"Adams has been better in a Derby shirt when laying the ball off to playmakers, while Thompson can do a bit of both. Armstrong, though, is pure class and showed that with his outrageous side-foot volley against Plymouth. He wants to play forward when he can - and that is why [John] Eustace is a massive fan of his."
Thankfully new Rams boss Eustace was a massive fan. After all, Armstrong arrived at Pride Park when Paul Warne was manager, although he was sacked before the teenager kicked a ball for his new club.
Everton now face the conundrum that so many clubs do with a talented youngster. Do you keep them around and tap into their talents sporadically? Or do they head out on loan again to play regular football, albeit leaving so much out of your own control?
Speaking recently after Armstrong returned to the Blues briefly from his loan, Moyes hinted he was open to keeping the teenager next season.
"He's back a different player because he's probably got Championship games under his belt for a young boy, which is very good," he said.
"We’ve just got to make sure he gets some holiday time off, but also keep him ready for that as well.
"We will involve him in the Summer Series and involve him in the pre-season. He will get an opportunity."
For what it's worth, Armstrong himself is open to all possibilities. "I'd definitely be interested to come back here," he said of a return to Derby in May. "It's a great club, a great fanbase. The staff and players are great. I think there's talks to be had."
Then speaking with Everton's in-house media, he hinted he would love to be involved as the club start a new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
"I think it's something a young player wants to be part of," he said. "You see the club moving forward with the new stadium and new players coming in. And yes, you want to be a part of it."
With new owners, new stadium and a new start, that desire understandable. Why not a new home-grown hero too?