Everton boss David Moyesplaceholder image
Everton boss David Moyes | Getty Images
Everton were dealt another blow during Saturday’s defeat at Chelsea
Preston North End will hope to see Harrison Armstrong recall talk simmer down, but it looks unlikely after latest developments at Everton.
The teenager is on loan with the Lilywhites for the season and performing well. Midfield issues back at his parent club, though, are not going away. On top of Idrissa Gueye going away with Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations, key man Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went down with a hamstring injury during Saturday’s defeat at Chelsea.
Other key cog, James Garner, is only one booking away from picking up a one-match ban - he has three more games to come through before the cut-off. Summer signing Merlin Rohl - which allowed Armstrong to join PNE - is only just back from a hernia operation. Manager David Moyeshopes to see him back in action soon.
Speaking post-Chelsea, he said: “The disappointment is today we've got two players going to AFCON. We've got another one picked up an injury. Jack (Grealish) just felt his hamstring a little bit at the end as well with the effort he made at the back post to try and score.
“So before you know it, you know you can find yourself in no situation. But look, we're at a time of year where there's so many games coming up. Weather's changing and all sorts. It's part of football. I think January is always important. I don't know if it's always an easy month to really do your business.
“But look, we'll try if we think there's something that can help us. Numbers might become an issue but we just hope that everything's fine. I thought Jimmy Garner could’ve been as good as anybody on the pitch today. But with 10 minutes to go, I knew that I couldn't afford to get him booked.
“So I had to take him out of it in case we were going to lose him with five bookings. So anyway, look, we'll see what happens in January. There's no guarantee that we'll do business but obviously, we'll be looking like everybody else."
Any lengthy injury for Dewsbury-Hall, mind, would leave Moyes with midfield options of Garner - who is walking the suspension tightrope - Tim Iroegbunam, Carlos Alcaraz and the returning Rohl. After that the former Preston boss could be turning to wide men Dwight McNeill, Jack Grealish or Tyler Dibling.
Armstrong’s immediate future has been a hot topic of late with it discussed by the player himself, PNE boss Paul Heckingbottom and captain Ben Whiteman - as well as Toffees chief Moyes. North End’s loan man did suggest he’d like to do the full season at Deepdale, while wanting any decision to be for the best of his development.
Speaking in the week, on the matter, skipper Whiteman said: “Listen, I'm no manager, but Harrison's playing every week. He's loved by the fans. He's loved by the lads in there. Why wouldn't you want to stay? And he definitely does - we've had numerous chats about it. He definitely wants to stay.
“But again, it's taken out of his hands. Is he going to go and get the required game time at Everton this season? Not so sure. Can he go on and have a real impact for us this season at the back end? Certainly so. If I was looking at Harrison and managing Harrison, which I am not, I'd tell him to stay.”
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