David Moyes has been mulling over a crucial decision that could drastically affect the career progress and footballing development of one of Everton Academy's rare top-class talents.
Joe Thomas of The Echo spoke at length with David Moyes about Harrison Armstrong on Friday. They discussed how Moyes sees his potential and his thoughts on whether to loan him out or not. Here are the words of the manager:
On whether to loan him out
"We've got a decision to make, we're not in a hurry, I think that he played really well in midweek. We'll make a decision, we have got many teams wanting to take him on loan. Our biggest decision is whether he would he be better going and playing 20 Championship games up until January, when we start to lose some players through Afcon, or would he be better here, being in and around the team? That would be a decision we'll make in the next day or two."
On his potential
"I think he's got the potential to be a good Everton player and I think he's moving along, he's stepping up when he is asked to step up. We mustn't get carried away with the game the other night because it's a different level to get to the Premier League and he's young, he is a lot younger than, I'm thinking of players who have played at some other clubs and some young midfield players, it takes a bit of time to get that to come through.
"He's not an England Under-21 player yet, so he's got a little bit to go. I'm thinking of people, and only because they're in my head, like Tyler Morton or Hayden Hackney, who were struggling to make it, they've not got to the Premier League and they're England Under 21 players. Tim [Iroegbunam] is just beginning to break through into the first team more often now, so there's still probably a little to go for Harrison."
What is influencing the Harrison loan decision?
"I think a lot depends if we maybe get a more experienced midfield player in. It's very difficult now, is it better he comes [with us] and he sits on the bench and gets little bits of moments, trains with us every day, or is it better that he goes and plays maybe 20 games in the Championship? That's really the decision we feel as if we've got to take.
I think he's still young, and probably the biggest one that I can think is very similar is Leon Osman. First of all to Carlisle, then I sent him to Derby, and Ozzy took two loans, then came back and just about went right in the team and had an unbelievable career and went on to become an England international at the end as well.
"So I’ve got that in my head as well, but if we don't get a loan, I would have no problem keeping him because I think he's got potential."
And the transfer window deadline has passed with no word on whether Harrison Armstrong has gone out on loan or not.
Reader Comments (7)
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Double edged sword.
Squad is lacking numbers of quality in depth.
Not only that, the academy whose job is to support and provide first team standard players, has consistently failed to produce players for them
Many afforded loans to improve. This may have worked to a degree, but certainly not first team quality. Which over many recent seasons and more has been a pretty low standard. None in recent memory (except Gordon) have even appeared regularly and are basically bench warmers.
To avoid Armstrong spending more time on the sidelines, which Moyes clearly seems to know, it is a sensible thing to get him a loan where he can play football to a decent standard, where he can cut his teeth and craft his game.
I hope there is a recall clause because depletion is bound to occur if not.
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