Harrison Armstrong needs another loan and Everton must be prepared to sanction it
Harrison Armstrong is an incredible talent, but there is a feeling that the Everton youngster is not quite ready.
The academy prospect was recalled by the Toffees in January, amid David Moyes running out of options in his squad.
Injuries and Senegalese pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye being away at AFCON contributed to the decision, but Armstrong may have been better kept at Preston North End.
When injuries subsided and options re-emerged, Moyes did not show the same level of trust, with the youth talent playing just 42 minutes in the final 11 games.
Now, ahead of Everton's summer transfer window, they should consider allowing Armstrong another loan to develop.
Why Harrison Armstrong needs another loan away from Everton
While Armstrong's talent is clear to see, it was also evident that he was given his Premier League chance a bit too soon.
When playing for Everton this season, the young Englishman barely made much difference, and that is not his fault. Over the last few months, Armstrong has been treated poorly at Everton.
| Harrison Armstrong in Premier League | Everton 25-26 |
| xG / xA | 0.79 / 0.21 |
| Key passes per game | 0.3 |
| Pass accuracy | 81% |
Everton left themselves in a position where they were forced to recall him and ruin the momentum he was building at Preston.
He was brought back into a dysfunctional Everton side that was at a bare-bones level of squad depth, and that is difficult for any young player to adapt to.
In the end, he was unable to do so, and his development on the pitch ultimately stalled. Another loan could allow him to reignite the performances that were earning so much acclaim at Deepdale under Paul Heckingbottom.
Where should Harrison Armstrong go on loan to?
Armstrong's stint at Preston was successful, so a move to a team of that level would be ideal and perhaps even back to the Deepdale outfit.
However, the Toffees must be sensible and not include an option to end the loan early in order for his development to face no further interruptions.
Everton must prepare themselves in the market to have a squad filled with depth so that even when injuries strike, they are not tempted to pull the trigger once more.
Armstrong has a strong future at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but signs from this season suggest he is still not quite there yet.