Harrison Armstrong will turn 19 a few weeks into the start of the new year, but he's already been subject to plenty of talk around his future at Everton, going back as far as the summer of 2024.
He started the 2024/25 campaign with the Toffees, before being sent off to Derby County in February of 2025 for a loan spell that closed out once the season ended. The midfielder was on Everton's squad for the Summer Series in the United States during the preseason, but eventually joined Preston North End in the Championship before the summer transfer window closed.
But recent injuries to the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz, along with the absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye due to the Africa Cup of Nations, have Everton desperately looking for options.
After Tuesday's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, Everton manager David Moyes was asked about Armstrong's loan being terminated early, and his response left very little to the imagination: "More than likely," Moyes said.
Everton insider El Bobble noted after the match that the club is "in on-going discussions over recalling Harrison Armstrong back to the club from his loan spell at Preston," and that Armstrong "is now expecting to return to Merseyside during January."
It doesn't get much more definitive than that.
The problem is that the move is a bit of a double-edged sword for Everton. Armstrong has started 13 of his 17 matches since joining Preston, generally playing upwards of 70+ minutes when he does start. While he's managed just to goal contributions, his defensive work rate is excellent as a deeper-lying midfielder.
More than anything else, the experience of playing most weeks is great for his development, with the thought being that Everton were eyeing him to be a major part of the plans for next season.
His return to Merseyside is more of a necessity for a club that is low on midfield options outside of James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, and Merlin Rohl, rather than one that will help Armstrong continue to improve. At his age, that feels more of a necessity, especially considering injuries to the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz will hopefully not be terribly long term.
So on some level it feels a bit of an overreaction from the club, because Armstrong returning and sitting on the bench week-over-week would not be ideal. Maybe a short term loan in January would be a better way to solve the problem.
However, make no mistake about it, if Armstrong does return, it won't be because the club feels it is what's best for the player, but only about added improved depth to the side for the final five months of the season.