Preston boss expects Harrison to return

PRESTON North End manager Paul Heckingbottom insists he expects Harrison Armstrong to go back on loan to the Championship club before the winter transfer window shuts despite the Scouser starting Everton's last three matches.

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

Blues homegrown hero Armstrong from West Derby, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Monday, impressed in difficult circumstances in the games at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland and then played a starring role in David Moyes’ men's 1-0 victory at Villa Park on Sunday against an Aston Villa side who had won their previous 11 home fixtures.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp hailed Armstrong as being the best player on the pitch against Unai Emery’s side and given his promising displays, not looking out of place in the Premier League, there has been an increasing clamour for him to remain with Everton for the remainder of the campaign. Having initially signed off with a brace of assists in the Blues’ 2-0 Carabao Cup win at home to Mansfield on August 27, Armstrong joined Preston on a season-long loan on September 1 having had a similar spell at Derby County in the second half of 2024/25.