Former Everton captain Alan Stubbs has hailed home-grown hero Harrison Armstrong as one of the best young prospects in British football.

Armstrong, who hails from West Derby, became the first Scouser to play in a competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium when David Moyes brought him on as a last-minute substitute for Jack Grealish in the 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on August 24. However, after then providing a brace of assists in the 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over League One Mansfield Town three days later, the midfielder was sent to Preston North End on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day of the summer window.

Turning out 17 times for the Championship outfit and scoring once, Armstrong was recalled early from Deepdale on New Year’s Day and has featured in all eight of Everton’s subsequent fixtures, starting six games in a row before returning to the bench for the 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth last time out. During his own playing days with the Blues, Kirkby-born Stubbs struck up a close friendship with fellow Merseysider Wayne Rooney and acted as a mentor, looking after him both on and off the pitch.

Given...