Everton: We Need To Talk About Harrison Armstrong

Many Everton supporters wanted to see Hayden Hackney starting over Harrison Armstrong in the game against Newcastle on Monday night.

It makes sense. Hackney produced an impressive performance going forward in the previous game, getting a goal and an assist in the Carabao Cup. What Hackney offers Everton in the final third is beneficial, but that doesn't mean there are no benefits to playing Armstrong. 

Some games will suit Hackney, some will suit Armstrong. There's no doubt many would like to see more of Hackney, and rightly so, but that doesn't mean after one strong performance he now starts every game ahead of Armstrong.

Armstrong's performance against Newcastle led to some fans questioning him and his ability. There's no doubt, Armstrong should have scored and did struggle in the final third, but is that not to be expected?

Armstrong isn't the complete midfielder yet. He has strengths to his game, and he has weaknesses. There aren't many 19 year olds in history who haven't had weaknesses.

Fans shouldn't expect youngsters to be perfect. They will make mistakes and have areas in which they need to improve. It's the same for Tyler Dibling, Thierno Barry, and even Hackney, despite them being at different stages of their career.

It's easy to forget how young Armstrong is considering he's developed into a regular Premier League player. The youngster has started every single Premier League game for Everton this season, totalling almost 800 minutes.

Armstrong ranks fourth in Europe's top five leagues for minutes played for players aged under 20, only bettered by Luka Vuskovic, Jorge Salinas, and Lamine Yamal. As a result, he has more minutes than any other English player and any other midfielder in the top five leagues. 

Among the others in the top 10 are Genesis Antwi, Xavier Madnza Tsiendi, Buba Sangare, and Joshua King. None of these are complete players yet. Yamal is one you could argue is there, but he's a freak, super talent. 

To be getting these minutes under his belt at his age is invaluable. If we look at the top 10 for minutes in the Premier League last season, no player managed over 1800. If Armstrong continues, he's going to fly past that number. 

If we even change the parameters to players under the age of 22, you've got Rafael Garrido, Alessandro Romano, Jacobo Ramon, Jon Martin. Again, a list of players who aren't established, world-class players. 

Playing regularly at Premier League level at the age of 19 is an achievement in itself. Armstrong simply doesn't look out of place, either. That's an incredibly difficult thing to do. 

The point is, you can't find 19 years old playing week-in week-out in the top five leagues who are finished articles. As mentioned, the closest one is Yamal, but we certainly shouldn't be holding Armstrong to that standard.

Armstrong is the first teenager to start Everton's opening five Premier League games since 2013/2014. We should be cherishing these youngsters and letting them make mistakes.

He's also had to deal with almost leaving the club, having to focus on his own game down at Bournemouth while not knowing where his future lies. Armstrong showed maturity by producing a strong performance when there were some huge distractions ongoing. 

Armstong plays like a midfielder who is comfortably over 20 in terms of not shying away from challenges, demanding things on the pitch. 

Could Armstrong be better in the final third? Of course. There are other weaknesses to his game too, but that's perfectly normal. 

Moyes clearly values Armstrong's work rate in a side that, more often than not, has less possession than the other team. Only Pascal Groß has covered more distance than Armstrong in the Premier League this season. No youngster gets near him in terms of that. 

Hackney might have scored that Armstrong chance, but would against Newcastle, but would he have covered the ground Armstrong did? Would he have helped out defensively like Armstrong? Would he have been in deeper positions to recover the ball and drive up the pitch? Maybe not.

Coventry at home next. This could be ideal for Hackney. The former Middlesbrough man deserves more minutes, but that doesn't mean we have to slander Armstrong.