Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Everton are back in action in the Premier League this afternoon as they prepare to welcome Manchester United to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Toffees have picked up four points from two matches so far this season and will be hoping that their deadline day signings will help them to continue their fine form.
REUTERS/Toby Melville
Jack Grealish returned on loan from Manchester City to bolster David Moyes' attack, whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined to provide cover at right-back and in central midfield.
Whilst it may be too early for the latter to be thrown in from the start, the Scottish head coach could decide to take one of his midfielders out of the line-up after the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, as Harrison Armstrong could be dropped.
Why Harrison Armstrong must be dropped against Man Utd
Taking away all the drama surrounding the midfielder and his failed move to Nottingham Forest, which was vetoed by the board after anger from supporters, the Englishman struggled against the Cherries.
The former Preston North End loanee was selected to play alongside James Garner in the middle of the park and played 86 minutes, with the Toffees equalising shortly after he came off.
Armstrong was neat and tidy with the ball at his feet, completing 95% of his attempted passes throughout the game, but his work off the ball left far too much to be desired.
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Vs Bournemouth Harrison Armstrong
Minutes 86
Pass accuracy 95%
Chances created 1
Tackles won 1/3
Ground duels won 3/9
Aerial duels won 1/3
Dribbled past 2x
Fouls committed 2
The 19-year-old talent lost eight of his 12 duels throughout the afternoon, being dribbled past twice by opposition players, and that is a concern ahead of a clash with Manchester United, who have Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans in their midfield.
REUTERS/Toby Melville
Everton need to be compact and strong defensively to avoid giving United's star creators too much space to create chances for their forward players, which is why Armstrong should be dropped.
The Everton player who should replace Harrison Armstrong
Whilst it is too soon for Maitland-Niles, who only signed for the club on Tuesday, there is another midfield option who could emerge as Moyes' next version of Garner.
Everton midfielder James Garner
Early on in the summer transfer window, Everton swooped to sign Middlesbrough central midfielder Hayden Hackney in a deal worth around £16m, after he won the Championship Player of the Season award for the 2025/26 campaign.
The Toffees have had success when signing Championship stars in the past. Garner had starred on loan at Nottingham Forest in the second tier in the 2021/22 season before joining the club from Manchester United on a permanent deal in 2022.
He has since developed into a key player for Everton, assisting seven goals last term, and has been capped twice by England in 2026 so far.
everton-premier-league
Hackney could follow in his footsteps after making the same leap from the Championship to the Premier League, particularly after he made an impressive debut in the top-flight.
The 24-year-old dynamo started in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson on the opening day of the season and caught the eye with his display in the middle of the park.
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Vs Crystal Palace Hayden Hackney
Minutes 79
Pass accuracy 88%
Chances created 1
Tackles won 1/2
Ball recoveries 4
Ground duels won 5/9
Fouls committed 1
Dribbled past 0x
Hackney avoided being dribbled past in 79 minutes against Palace, winning the majority of his ground duels, and that suggests that he could have more to offer the team out of possession than Armstrong has.
In that same match, the deadline day target for Forest also lost five of his nine ground duels and committed three fouls in midfield, showing that he has struggled off the ball in both of the club's Premier League matches.
Hackney's form for Middlesbrough in the Championship last season also suggests that there is far more to come from him in possession, as he racked up five goals and seven assists in the second tier for his former club.
The former England U21 international has the quality on the ball to make things happen at the top end of the pitch as a scorer and a creator of goals, and it is now down to him to showcase that at Premier League level.
Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Hackney has already shown that he has the mobility and the physicality to impress in the top-flight, as evidenced by his performance against Palace, and the next step is for him to impose himself on games with the ball at his feet.
Moyes must now unleash him against Man United as a replacement for Armstrong, whilst Maitland-Niles should wait on the bench for now, to see if he can provide a complete performance in the middle of the park.
If he can combine the attacking elements he showed at Boro with the defensive qualities that he has shown this season, Hackney could go on to become the next Garner on Merseyside.