Moyes can lay down stamp on Everton with bold selection decision v Aston Villa
David Moyes should boldly start Harrison Armstrong for Everton in the clash against Aston Villa.
The 18-year-old is attracting loan interest this month [Liverpool Echo] amid fears he may see his first-team opportunities limited due to Tim Iroegbunam’s impending return.
However, Armstrong stole the show at Goodison Park in the 2-0 win against Peterborough United in the FA Cup (9 January) and could be the perfect solution for the Blues’ creative woes in the Premier League.
Everton must start Harrison Armstrong v Aston Villa
All eyes will be on Goodison Park on Wednesday evening (15 January) as Moyes begins his second spell for Everton.
The timing surrounding Sean Dyche’s sacking and the manner of the dismissal sent shockwaves through the blue half of Merseyside.
Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman assumed first-team duties for the FA Cup and while dealing with the bombshell news, Harrison truly introduced himself to Goodison Park.
While Goodison News understands that reports suggesting a move for Ernest Nuamah is close to completion are indeed wide of the mark, the Blues may not need to enter the transfer market to inject some much-needed creativity into the side.
Baines, the current Under-18s boss, clearly saw something in Armstrong that Dyche missed when he selected the youngster to start on the flanks against Peterborough.
What a decision that turned out to be as the England Under-18s international completed 86 per cent of his passes with one key pass and one big chance created to assist Beto for the opening goal [Sofascore].
He proved to be a constant threat to the Peterborough backline, with four passes into the final third and completing 100 per cent of his long ball attempts [Fotmob].
Although Moyes had yet to be appointed, Armstrong produced a proper Moyes-esque display with his defensive work rate on the right flank – he won 100 per cent of his tackles, 50 per cent of his duels, two recoveries, and one interception.
David Moyes must drop Jesper Lindstrom v Aston Villa
While starting Armstrong is a risk against Aston Villa, it is a far better prospect than the current alternatives.
Jesper Lindstrom continued his woeful form on Merseyside in the 1-0 loss against Bournemouth (4 January) – neither he nor Jack Harrison has contributed a single goal in the Premier League this term.
Therefore, Moyes’s decision is simple: He must trust one of the brightest academy talents at Finch Farm and reap the rewards.
Considering the Toffees boast the second-worst goalscoring record in the top flight, what is there to lose?
In other Everton news, the Blues are serious contenders for an Ajax star as a £4.2m transfer update emerges.
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