**David Moyes has explained Everton’s decision to send Harrison Armstrong on loan.**
The homegrown midfielder joined Moyes’ former club Preston North End on deadline day despite his recent senior involvement at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Armstrong was named Man of the Match in the Blues’ Carabao Cup second round win over Mansfield Town following his return from a loan at Derby County last term.
But Moyes admits that he took the decision to allow the 18-year-old to return to the Championship in order to build his regular first-team experience in this campaign.
He said: “I could have kept Harrison but I didn’t know if he was ready to be a starter yet.
“I thought he played really well against Mansfield, he’s played well in a couple of games he’s been in.
“But I actually thought that another 15, 20 games in the Championship would be another stage.
“He’s 18 years old, there’s one or two very talented 17-year-old players playing in the Premier League at the moment, but in the main… he’s young for a midfield player.
“And he’s still got a bit of physical attributes to grow into. So I’m hoping that Preston’s a good base for him, I believe it is, and he gets some game time and comes back stronger again.”