Everton have brought Harrison Armstrong back early from his season long loan at Preston North End
10:00, 01 Jan 2026Updated 10:53, 01 Jan 2026
Harrison Armstrong during the match between Wrexham and Preston North End at the Racecourse Ground on December 29, 2025(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Everton have recalled Harrison Armstrong early from his season long loan at Preston North End. And the midfielder is now in contention to be included in the squad for the Blues’ first fixture of 2026 against Brentford on Sunday.
Despite his depleted squad battling to an impressive 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday with just 11 fit players with prior Premier League experience, Everton manager David Moyes said it was “more than likely, we will bring Harrison Armstrong back” when asked by the ECHO. That statement has now come into fruition with the West Derby-born prospect returning to Finch Farm to join up with the rest of the Blues’ first team squad.
Armstrong, who celebrates his 19th birthday on January 19, made his senior debut for Everton as a late substitute in their 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur under Sean Dyche on August 24, 2024.
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But a year to the day later, he became the first Scouser to play in a competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium when Moyes brought him on at the end of the 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
He was then handed a start for the 2-0 win over Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup second round three days later with what was his eighth appearance for the Blues and provided a brace of assists for Charly Alcaraz and Beto against the League One side before sealing his transfer deadline day switch to Deepdale.
Armstrong has made 17 appearances for Preston North End, scoring one goal and providing one assist, to help Paul Heckingbottom’s side to within a point of the play-off places.
However, with Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye both away on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall out with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until later this month, Moyes has chosen to bring back the highly-rated youngster, who he sent out on a similar loan spell at Derby County during the second half of last season.
Everton start the New Year with three home games in the space of a week and following Sunday’s clash with Brentford, they then host the Premier League’s bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday before entertaining Sunderland in the FA Cup third round the following Saturday.
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