It has now been around two months since Harrison Armstrong returned to Everton after his loan at Preston North End.
The 18-year-old midfielder has started just one of Everton’s last four games, with minutes now proving hard to come by for the youngster.
David Moyes brought Armstrong back from Preston in January amid Idrissa Gana Gueye’s absence and other injury concerns.
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Everton's Braiden Graham inspecting the pitch before the match during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton. Everton midfielder Malik Olayiwola. Justin Clarke of Everton looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Accrington Stanley and Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns – CameraSport/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto/Matt McNulty.
As the games go by, the decision to keep Armstrong at the Hill Dickinson Stadium looks worse and worse.
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Everton must regret not returning Harrison Armstrong to Preston
As soon as the midfielder returned to Finch Farm, Moyes admitted he wanted Armstrong to return to Preston for the remainder of the season.
Ultimately, that did not happen.
The 62-year-old Everton boss used Armstrong quite considerably during January, with six Premier League starts to his name since returning.
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Everton midfielders Harrison Armstrong, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gana Gueye in action.
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However, those starts have dwindled in recent weeks as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gana Gueye return to their best form.
In the recent win over Burnley earlier in the week, Armstrong did not even make it off the bench.
Matchday Date Venue Opponent Result Pos Min
25 07/02/26 A Fulham FC 1:2 W LW 69′
26 10/02/26 H Bournemouth 1:2 L CM 28′
27 23/02/26 H Man Utd 0:1 L LM 73′
28 28/02/26 A Newcastle 2:3 L CM 9′
29 03/03/26 H Burnley FC 2:0 W Bench –
Moyes has been impressed with Armstrong’s development following the loan stint in the Championship at Deepdale.
That development needs regular minutes to continue and Armstrong is simply not getting his opportunity under the 62-year-old Scot.
Armstrong dropping down Everton’s pecking order
In an attempt to squeeze him into the starting XI, Moyes recently played Armstrong on the wing; a move that did not get the best out of the midfielder.
Now, Armstrong has returned to competing against the likes of James Garner, Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam and Merlin Rohl for a spot.
Having been brought back from Preston to address Everton’s lack of squad depth, Armstrong now finds himself a victim of the other options Moyes has available.
Paul Heckingbottom was desperate for Armstrong to return to Preston in the winter window.
The Lilywhites have since slipped down the table, with their hopes of reaching the play-offs fading as the weeks go by.
Meanwhile, Armstrong finds himself watching Everton from the bench.
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