Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong has now made more Premier League starts for the club as a teenager than John Stones and Ross Barkley, reaching 16 starts this season. The milestone was highlighted in a social media post that also placed Armstrong above former Everton players in the club's history for teenage appearances in the top flight.
Record and Reaction
The statistic showed Armstrong in first place with 61 teenage appearances in all competitions, some 21 ahead of Wayne Rooney in second. Armstrong said he was surprised by the figure, noting that he had never known about it before seeing it online.
Reflecting on his career, Armstrong wondered how his numbers might have looked if Walter Smith had not signed three other left-backs in David Unsworth, Alessandro Pistone and Gary Naysmith during his time at the club. He described the social media post as a nice positive tweet and said it was good to see his name at the top of a list featuring talented players who went on to have fantastic careers.
Opportunity Under Moyes
Armstrong is getting his opportunity at Everton, with playing time and trust from manager David Moyes. At the start of the season, there was uncertainty over whether he would be sent out on loan again, but his attitude in pre-season, training and the quality he has shown have helped him earn his chance.
Acknowledging that young players cannot perform well every week, Armstrong said games can pass you by and that he remembers playing matches where he could not recall doing anything good or bad. He noted that as a midfielder in the engine room, he has more opportunity to get on the ball than he did when stuck at left-back.
Leadership and Academy Pride
Armstrong has shown leadership as a youngster, including a tackle against Chelsea that he thought was fantastic and which got the crowd up and the team going, even though he was booked for it. He said he was taking that accountability.
With skills in his locker, Armstrong believes the more games he plays, the more experience and learning he will gain, including from those around him in the dressing room. He said it is great for the academy, which has been frustrated for a few years with players not being given opportunities, and that it is great to see one of the club's shining stars being given his chance and taking it.
