Derby County view given as Rams suffer Everton transfer miss - 'he’s going to play for England' | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit is adamant that Everton's Harrison Armstrong will go on to reach the very top

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

There is belief that Derby County should have fought harder to keep Harrison Armstrong on loan following the midfielder's short spell at Pride Park in 24/25, and he’s even been compared to Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Armstrong is now shining at Preston North End after joining them on loan from Everton instead - which is after the 18-year-old started the last 12 Championship games for the Rams in the previous campaign.

With new captain Lewis Travis sidelined through injury and Ebou Adams serving a suspension, the Rams were handed a little reminder of what they're missing when Bobby Clark - someone comfortable with the ball at his feet like Armstrong - partnered David Ozoh in midfield against QPR.

Clark, of course, got man of the match that game, with John Eustace saying he's "maturing" - a word the manager used to describe Armstrong at the back end of last season.

Harrison Armstrong's Preston North End form leaves Derby County with regret

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, is adamant that Armstrong will go on to reach the very top, while remaining convinced he'd have formed an "excellent partnership" with Ozoh.

“Harrison Armstrong is going to go on to have an unbelievable career,” Woodward told FLW.

"He’s going to play for England, he’s going to excel in the Premier League for years to come - I have no doubt about that."

When the teenager arrived at Derby on the 3rd February, the club sacked Paul Warne on the 7th. By this point, Armstrong was probably wondering what on earth he walked into, and it was only until March when he started his first game in black and white under Eustace.

"He came into Derby last season as a young kid that had barely played any football, at the wrong end of the Championship, in really, really challenging circumstances and he just oozed class and quality.

"He was calm, composed, he basically was a man well above his years. He played with such confidence, such calmness and maturity, and he was one of the main reasons we stayed up - he excelled in that team," Woodward continued.

As mentioned earlier, Eustace was equally full of praise for the Everton loanee during his time in the East Midlands, telling BBC Radio Derby, "For such a young boy, he's got a maturity about him that is really exciting."

"Generational talent" claim made on Everton's Harrison Armstrong

Firstly, Woodward believes that retaining Armstrong alongside Ozoh would have been an “excellent partnership,” rather than being a case of one signing over another.

"I was desperate for us to sign him this season. I think him and Nat Phillips, if we could’ve kept those two, I think we wouldn’t have been struggling as much as we have this season," Woodward said.

"He was key to everything offensively and also gave us that reassurance in front of the back five as well. Just got so much class, and he’s only going to get better as well as he gets older.

"I don’t think we would have got him instead of Ozoh - I think him and Ozoh together would’ve been an excellent partnership. They’re both very different and could’ve complemented each other well, it would’ve been nice to see them play together," he continued.

Armstrong himself has spoken about the different demands at Preston compared to his time at Derby, and how both experiences are shaping his development.

"Derby was all about survival and doing what was necessary. I believe that by the time I finish my loan at Preston and as the season wraps up, I will look back and realize I've learned different lessons compared to those at Derby," Armstrong told Everton’s media team.

Woodward then concluded his verdict on the youngster by telling FLW, "I believe he’s a bit like Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace - there’s similarities to them two - and i think both are generational talents."

I suppose for Derby supporters like Woodward, any hope that Armstrong might one day return to Pride Park in more permanent circumstances is long gone - and Preston fans might feel the same way in the future.