Why Hayden Hackney will be licking his lips at Everton after new Harrison Armstrong announcement

Hayden Hackney is yet to really carve out a key role as an Everton player.

The 24-year-old central midfielder joined in a big-money move from his boyhood club, Middlesbrough earlier this summer.

Making the step up from the Championship to the Premier League, it was always likely that Hackney would require some patience on Merseyside.

Indeed, David Moyes' midfield engine room is arguably the strongest part of this Toffees squad.

With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner not for budging, the only spot he's realistically competing for is the second central midfield one.

That, however, has largely been won by Harrison Armstrong so far this season, but Hackney's chance may have just subtly arrived.

Why Hayden Hackney could now be afforded Hull City start

As the first international break of the season rumbles on, it's not just senior national teams in action currently.

Youth sides are also in action, with England's Under-21s cracking on with their European Championships qualification group.

Lee Carsley's young lions currently sit top of their group with seven wins and one draw from eight games played, with only two more now to go.

As confirmed by England on Thursday, Jobe Bellingham and Lewis Miley have withdrawn from the Under-21s camp for the final two games.

As such, Armstrong and Trey Nyoni have been drafted in as their replacements.

The Under-21s play Slovakia on Friday night before ending their group stage with a trip to Ireland next Tuesday (6 October).

Crucially, that leaves a relatively short turnaround for Armstrong ahead of the Toffees' clash with Hull on the 11th.

So, if Armstrong plays a key role in these final two games, he may need to be rested against Hull, paving the way for a Hackney start.

But has the new arrival done enough when his opportunities have arisen to suggest he can stay in Moyes' side if/when that chance comes?

How Hackney's numbers compare to Premier League rivals

Despite appearing in all five of Everton's Premier League games so far this season, Hackney has only started one of them.

As such, he's culminated a mere 138 minutes of league football as a Toffee, but has been able to grab an assist in that time, starting brightly.

Per FotMob, no defensive midfielder in the Premier League has averaged more touches in the opposition box per 90 than Hackney's 5.22 this term.

Meanwhile, his 2.61 chances created per game rank him in the top 3.2 percentile, whilst his 13.2 kilometres covered per 90 put him in the leading 4.8 per cent.

That's some strong evidence that should he be afforded a bigger role at Hill Dickinson Stadium, he's ready to grab it.