David Moyes explained Everton's transfer stance on Harrison Armstrong ahead of the January window
Harrison Armstrong celebrates during the match between Preston North End and Sheffield United at Deepdale on October 24, 2025
Harrison Armstrong celebrates during the match between Preston North End and Sheffield United at Deepdale on October 24, 2025
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David Moyes has explained Everton’s transfer stance on Harrison Armstrong for the January window after admitting Idrissa Gueye’s absence leaves them light in midfield. And the Blues boss has given an update on Merlin Rohl.
Home-grown hero Armstrong, who made his senior debut in the 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on August 24 last year, has made eight appearances for the Everton first team and provided three assists in cup games against Peterborough United and Mansfield Town (2).
After becoming the first Scouser to play in a competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium as a last-minute substitute in the 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on August 24 this year, the West Derby prospect then starred in the Carabao Cup win over Mansfield three days later as he set up Carlos Alcaraz and Beto for their goals.
The 18-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan to Derby County, then returned to the Championship on September 1, transfer deadline day, by joining Preston North End on a season-long loan.
He has turned out 11 times for Paul Heckingbottom’s side so far but asked if there was an option to recall Armstrong, Moyes said: “I’m really happy with how Harrison is doing. He’s coming on great.
“I think Preston would be hugely disappointed if we took him back. But he’s also got an injury at the moment as well, he’s been out for the last few games with an injury at Preston but hopefully he’s due back very shortly.
“We’ll consider it in January. But I think at the moment him getting the games at the age he’s at and where he’s performing and Preston hopefully will have a really good chance of making the play-offs and I think for him it’s a good level to be playing at.”
Moyes admitted that he is short of numbers in the engine room, though, with Gueye suspended for the next three games and then heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal soon after.
In addition, transfer deadline day signing Rohl is currently sidelined having undergone an operation for a hernia.
The Blues boss said: “We are light in midfield. Merlin having an operation has left us light, so we are quite short, but we’ve got other people who can play in there like Charly Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil if we need to as well.
“Overall, the four midfield players that we had, Merlin is probably not going to be back until the start of January and Idrissa’s absence keeps us short in that area.”
As well as Rohl and Gueye, Everton will be without club captain Seamus Coleman, who came off with a hamstring injury in the superb 1-0 win at Manchester United on Monday, and longer-term injury victims Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson.
Moyes said: "Seamus has got a small injury. We don't think it's too bad but he just felt his hamstring early in the game, which was really disappointing from his point of view and ours. Jarrad is still on the way back and Patto as well."
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