David Moyes has confirmed that Harrison Armstrong looks set to return to Everton from his successful loan spell at Preston North End
22:26, 30 Dec 2025Updated 22:27, 30 Dec 2025
Harrison Armstrong is impressing on loan at Preston from Everton(Image: Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Everton look set to recall Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell at Preston North End. The midfielder has enjoyed a stellar campaign with the Championship club since leaving the Blues on the summer transfer deadline day.
But a selection crisis caused by the Africa Cup of Nations and a series of injuries has left David Moyes struggling to piece together a squad.
The Everton manager named just eight substitutes in the goalless draw at Burnley on Saturday – a bench that included two goalkeepers and several academy players.
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Chris Beesley
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Chris Beesley
And at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, his bench included Jack Grealish, who Moyes acknowledged was not fully fit before the game, and 18-year-old forward Braiden Graham, as he selected a side that featured just 11 fit players with prior Premier League experience.
Against that backdrop, the success of Armstrong at Deepdale has become increasingly difficult to ignore, with Moyes previously admitting he was considering recalling the teenager in January.
Despite his depleted squad battling to an impressive win at the City Ground, the Blues boss said it was “more than likely, we will bring Harrison Armstrong back” when asked by the ECHO.
It comes with his selection crisis having been exacerbated by injuries to Carlos Alcaraz and Michael Keane in the build-up to the trip to Forest. Moyes would not elaborate on the nature or severity of either.
They joined a long list of absentees that includes Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman (all hamstring injuries) and Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, both at AFCON with Senegal.
Everton produced a superb performance to win 2-0 at Forest. It was a win that has moved them up to eighth in the Premier League table.
The Blues return to action on Sunday at home to Brentford.
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