Preston North End are headed for a mid-table finish in the Championship, despite having strong play-off ambitions earlier in the season.

Despite sitting in fourth place in early January after a 2-0 win at Bristol City, Paul Heckingbottom’s side quickly fell apart, and the Lilywhites’ performances since the turn of the year have been largely poor, with plenty of work to be done in the transfer window to ensure they have greater top six credentials next season.

It remains to be seen whether or not Saudi-US businessman Amr Zedan’s funding will be made available during that transfer window, but it appears that PNE’s recent decline can be attributed in part to the recall of previous loan star Harrison Armstrong by Everton in January.

The 19-year-old made an impressive impact in 17 Championship matches for North End and has gone on to make 11 Premier League appearances for the Toffees this season – but, as expected, he has now disappeared from David Moyes’ 20-man matchday teams.

Harrison Armstrong updated hands. Preston North End’s latest transfer hope

Armstrong’s popularity among PNE fans was not due to his goals and assists (he only had one of each), but more to his drive, determination, and skill in getting the ball and moving it up the pitch, making them a more dangerous team.

The teenager scored once in a 1-1 tie with Wrexham in December, and he also assisted in a 2-1 win over Swansea City in November.

Meanwhile, since returning to Everton, Armstrong has played both out wide and in attacking midfield, in contrast to his slightly more defensive role at Preston.

When he returned to the Merseyside club, he saw plenty of action, starting in Premier League games against Wolves, Aston Villa, Brighton, Fulham, and Manchester United.

The former North End loanee also played all 120 minutes as David Moyes’ side lost to Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup on penalties.

However, after Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on February 23, Armstrong has received fewer minutes as more senior players have returned to fitness, and Dwight McNeil and Tyrique George have been given greater opportunities in forward areas.

The 19-year-old was selected an unused substitute for last month’s Premier League games against Burnley and Chelsea, but he has since missed out on matchday selection, with no less than ten players in midfield or attacking midfield positions ahead of him.

According to TeamTalk, the teen’s recent omissions from the Merseyside club’s matchday squads were due to selection decisions rather than injuries, and in his preferred position, Armstrong faces competition from James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye, both of whom have played important roles in Everton’s bid to qualify for Europe.

The teenager’s tumble down the pecking order at the Hill Dickinson Stadium opens the door for Preston to sign him on loan again this summer.

He is under contract until the summer of 2028, so the Toffees have plenty of time to let Armstrong continue his development before determining whether to include him in the first-team squad going forward.

Everton’s Hayden Hackney interest strengthens Preston’s chances of a fresh Harrison Armstrong agreement.

Despite Armstrong’s lack of game time in recent weeks due to competition, Moyes is still looking to bolster his midfield options for next season.

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are the top contenders to capture Middlesbrough ace Hayden Hackney, who has also piqued the interest of Coventry City following the Sky Blues’ elevation from the Championship to the Premier League.

If the Toffees sign the 23-year-old, who was named the second-tier’s Player of the Season, Armstrong’s prospects of getting more game time next season may suffer even more.

And if that happens, Armstrong will almost certainly be loaned out to another club, possibly for the entire season, in order to get consistent playing experience to help his development, which is clearly what he requires.

As a result, PNE would have a great chance of reacquiring the teenager’s loan signature – David Moyes, who used to play for and manage the Lilywhites and is still a fan today, has made no secret of the fact that he didn’t want to bring Armstrong back from Deepdale due to how well he was doing, but his hand was seemingly forced due to injuries at the time.

If the Premier League is interested in temporarily signing Armstrong for the season, that is another story; but, if he returns to the Championship, the England youth international’s ideal destination is undoubtedly back in PR1.