Paul Heckingbottom on Harrison Armstrong
The Everton midfielder is on loan at Deepdale for the season
Paul Heckingbottom says everyone is happy with how Harrison Armstrong’s loan spell at Preston North End is going.
Last week, Everton boss David Moyes was asked about the potential of recalling the England youth international in January, given the Toffees’ midfield options have taken a hit. The Scot - who managed PNE for four years - suggested he would like Armstrong to see out the season at Deepdale and help fire the club into the play-offs.
“Yeah, listen, Everton think it's great for him and Harrison loves it,” Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post, when asked if he’d seen Moyes’ comments. “He's at the right end of the table competing - a different pressure - which is great. He's getting challenged in different ways, slightly different role and yeah, everyone's pleased with it. We know that there's no guarantees but everyone's pleased with how it's going.”
PNE head into this weekend’s clash against Wrexham sitting fifth in the table. Moyes clearly has high hopes his old club can push for promotion, but Heckingbottom doesn’t see that as a key factor in whether Armstrong stays all season.
“It's more his minutes, it's more how he's doing,” said Heckingbottom. “Is he progressing? That's Everton's priority at the end of the season. Is he going to be in a better place? Their only other consideration is, ‘Do we need to bring him back and play him?’. Apart from that, it's what's going to put Harrison in the best place come the end of the season.”
Moyes on Armstrong
“I’m really happy with how Harrison is doing,” said Moyes. “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... 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.”
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