On-loan Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong has been hailed by Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom after his first goal for the Championship side
Harrison Armstrong celebrates scoring during the match between Preston North End and Wrexham at Deepdale on December 6, 2025
Harrison Armstrong celebrates scoring during the match between Preston North End and Wrexham at Deepdale on December 6, 2025
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Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom believes the sky’s the limit for Everton wonderkid Harrison Armstrong after he netted his first goal on loan for the Championship club. The West Derby-born home-grown hero completed a season-long loan move to Deepdale on transfer deadline day, September 1.
It came after he signed off at Everton with a brace of assists in the 2-0 win over Mansfield Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 27.
The 18-year-old had been getting regular minutes for Preston but a groin injury had kept him out of action for almost a month before the weekend.
Armstrong returned to action in the home game against Wrexham on Saturday as a 70th-minute substitute for ex-Blues forward Lewis Dobbin with his side trailing to Kieffer Moore’s fourth minute tap-in.
But 11 minutes later he struck the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with a low left-foot drive from a tight angle to beat Arthur Okonkwo.
And following the breakthrough moment for the youngster, PNE boss Heckingbottom said: “He took it nicely.
“I’ve just been saying he plays a different role probably for us, than he did at Derby last year, with and without the ball.
“He’ll find himself high up the pitch and be a lot more aggressive.
“I think that really suits him. He’s a player who’s 18 and already having a big impact on Championship games.
“One because of his talent, but probably more so because of his personality on the pitch and his drive to win. He really affects games positively and that’s his gift, that’s his talent… and he’s got so much more to learn as well.
“He should get even better, so I think he’s going to be a top player.”
Speaking in his pre-match press conference to preview the game against Newcastle United, Everton manager David Moyes was asked whether if there was an option to recall Armstrong in January given that he was light in available midfield numbers.
The Blues boss 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.”