Evertonians, after all, have been given glimpses of the youngster’s exceptional talent during a smattering of first-team appearances and from highlights of academy matches. And from Derby’s perspective? Well, loan players from Goodison Park just seem to work out.
“Derby fans want their players to leave it all out there on the pitch and graft for the badge. With Everton I am under the impression that it is the same.
Armstrong clearly has a long way to go before matching Osman, but his stunning goal in the win over Plymouth Argyle in the 3-2 win for the Rams at the weekend set Everton social media channels ablaze. It was the gloss on what has been an excellent spell for the 18-year-old.
“He came into a Derby side that was going through a turbulent time having surprisingly sacked Paul Warne just four days after Armstrong signed for the club,” Cusack told us.
“He had to wait for his first start, with three substitute appearances coming before being left on the bench against Millwall. He played 76 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough but it’s been in the Rams’ three-match winning run where he has really found his mojo.
“Armstrong picked up the man of the match award in a 2-1 defeat of Blackburn Rovers and how he handled the occasion, the first time Eustace managed against his former club with 30,000 packed into Pride Park, was impressive.
“Don’t underestimate the calibre of player Armstrong is going up against in the second tier – Armstrong competed really well against promotion winner Lewis Travis and team-mate Sondre Tronstad, a seasoned player in the Eredivisie.
“In the games against Coventry and Plymouth, he’s been keen to get stuck in and as Leigh Curtis, DerbyshireLive’s Rams correspondent, said after the match against the former, Armstrong may be a teenager but he does not play like one.
“In an ideal world Armstrong wouldn’t have had to be thrown in like he has but in the next-man-up nature of the Championship after injuries in Derby’s midfield, he’s done very, very well and is now a key player in a team fighting for survival.”
At Everton, Armstrong has been used in a number of different positions. In the academy he has frequently played as an advanced central midfielder, although when he has started for the first team he has been used in a deeper midfield role and playing off the right.
However, early indications are that he will be at his best in a box-to-box central role given he is regarded as such an all-rounder. That’s where he is being used at Derby and it would appear he looks right at home.
“He’s been playing a midfield three next to Ebou Adams, Derby’s captain and an experienced campaigner, and 22 year-old Liam Thompson,” Cusack continued. “It’s a midfield trio that is absolutely bang on at the moment with all three of them able to put a foot in but play, too.
