‘Heartbreaking’ – Preston fans are furious at the latest Deepdale transfer update
Preston North End fans are not happy with David Moyes as he prepares to recall loan midfielder Harrison Armstrong to his Everton squad in January.
Armstrong joined Preston on loan from Everton in the summer window and has been a key part of their promotion push so far this season.
The 18-year-old was loaned to fellow Championship side Derby County in the last January window, and he helped them avoid relegation with regular starts under John Eustace.
He has featured 19 times across league and cup games for Preston so far this term, with one goal and three assists to help them into seventh in the second-tier as it stands.
Everton‘s current injury crisis has led to concerns among Lilywhites fans that he may be recalled from his season-long spell, and it looks as if their biggest fears will be realised soon.
Moyes hints at imminent Armstrong recall as Everton squad stretched
Armstrong played eight times for Everton’s first team last season, providing three assists, before he went out on loan to Derby.
He is clearly highly rated on Merseyside, having also picked up caps at youth level for England, and Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom has previously admitted that they would like to keep him, but knows Moyes “can’t leave himself exposed” in terms of not having players fit.
His squad has been stretched in recent weeks with Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye at AFCON, as well as the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Michael Keane all out injured.
Everton beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Tuesday with numerous youngsters on the bench, and Moyes admitted post-match that a recall for Armstrong is now “more than likely.”
Preston fans rage at Moyes with their promotion hopes set to be damaged after Armstrong decision
Moyes managed Preston between 1998 and 2002 after he spent the last five years of his playing career at Deepdale.
His close ties to the club were seemingly key to Armstrong moving there in the summer, but an early recall is set to serve as a huge blow to those relations and their promotion push.
Heckingbottom’s side has already fallen away in the race for the play-offs in recent weeks, with one win in their last six games, but the 18-year-old has continued to be a shining light.
Taking to X to react to his latest comments, one Preston fan said: “Oh David…I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed…”
Another added: “Cheers lads you’ve just ruined my 2026 and it hasn’t even started yet.”
While one Lilywhites supporter said: “(I) never liked Moyes anyway,” and another wrote: “David remember your roots, let us have him till the end of the season.”