David Moyes on verge of ruining Everton’s season after latest transfer developments
David Moyes is set to make a decision which could decide the course of Everton’s season.
The Merseyside outfit’s campaign is currently in the balance, as they sit 10th in the Premier League and primed to make a push for the European places.
However, Everton will be without Jack Grealish for an extended period after the creative winger suffered a suspected stress fracture in his foot.
Grealish has been crucial for David Moyes’ side this term, and they will now need other players in the squad to step up and fill the void left by the Manchester City loanee.
Preston expect Harrison Armstrong to return
With a number of players missing at the start of January, Everton recalled Harrison Armstrong from Preston North End.
The 19-year-old has been superb since his return to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, starting three of the four games he has been available for.
However, with Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye soon back from the Africa Cup of Nations, Armstrong could now be sent back to Preston to finish the season.
North End manager Paul Heckingbottom has insisted that everyone at Deepdale is currently expecting the teenager to re-join before the end of the winter window.
There is yet to be official confirmation that Armstrong will return to Preston, though, which gives Moyes a crucial chance to block the loan.
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Why David Moyes must keep Armstrong for rest of season
Armstrong has shown that he is more than capable of playing Premier League football over the last three games.
Moyes clearly trusts him as well, keeping him on the pitch for the full 90 minutes in Everton’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa, and the full 120 minutes for the FA Cup defeat to Sunderland.
With Grealish now out for several months, the Toffees have even fewer options in attacking areas.
Armstrong surely must be kept around to give Moyes more depth, even if he is just an option coming off the bench.
The attacking midfielder will gain so much more from playing regular Premier League football, and will develop quicker as a result.
Everton losing Grealish for the season is a huge blow, and allowing another attacker to go out on loan could derail the Toffees’ campaign further.
Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Hill Dickinson, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.