Moyes gives Christian Norgaard update that’ll put one Everton player on red alert

Everton have played eight games so far this season and we have still not yet seen Christian Norgaard.

Everton landed Norgaard in a deal worth £7 million from Arsenal, and most fans welcomed it given his experience and leadership.

But so far, he hasn’t played after arriving at Everton with a groin injury. But there was positive news over the international break when the club released new images of Norgaard in training at Finch Farm for the first time. He was then in the squad for the game against Hull City.

But just ahead of that game, David Moyes gave an update on the Dane. And it was one that Harrison Armstrong may have welcomed.

Norgaard did not get on against Hull and before the game, Moyes dropped an update on the midfielder after his sighting in training and inclusion in the squad to face the Tigers.

In what was a slightly disappointing update, he said: “It’s good, but he’s a long way off yet, so I have to dampen that. Has he got some minutes in him? Yes, but not lots.”

The phrase ‘long way off’ will frustrate fans, with many wanting to see the new signing in action.

But there is at least one positive that can be taken out of the situation and that is that Harrison Armstrong should continue to get heavy involvement for the Toffees. So far, he has started all six of Everton’s Premier League games, which shows that Moyes trusts him.

However, we are yet to reach a point where Norgaard is fully fit, and so we don’t know which way Moyes would go when picking between the pair.

David Moyes on Christian Nørgaard’s inclusion: "It’s good, but he’s a long way off yet so I have to dampen that. Has he got some minutes in him? Yes, but not lots." On the defence: "We’ve got the ability to go to a back three if we need to."

But Armstrong – who has covered the most distance of any player in the Premier League so far – has a lot of credit in the bank for the way he’s started the new season, and this is now a chance for him to consolidate his position in the starting XI, with Norgaard seemingly still nowhere near ready to start.

Hayden Hackney is probably another who would have been particularly interested in Moyes’ update about Norgaard. But it’s Armstrong who’s in the team at the moment, and is arguably the most at risk of losing his place when Norgaard is fully fit.

Hopefully we will see him continue to shine in the coming weeks. In theory, he could step his game up knowing that a potential rival is getting closer to full fitness and minutes for Everton.