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Armstrong 'felt so much love' during 'awkward' transfer situation
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- Armstrong 'felt so much love' during 'awkward' transfer situation
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Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong has reflected on the "awkward situation" in August where a proposed deal to sell him to Nottingham Forest was called off following a backlash from the club's supporters .
Forest made a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the England Under-19 international but the news enraged Toffees fans, who sang Armstrong's name throughout their draw at Bournemouth and said there would be a "riot" if he was sold.
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The 19-year-old was named player of the match in the 1-1 draw .
"It was a weird day for me," Armstrong told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Not may people get to experience that and get that ticked off so early. It is something I'll be better for.
"Out of an awkward situation I felt so much love from the fans, the staff, and from my team-mates who showed me so much support that morning before the game. It really helped me clear my head and gave me a good foundation where I felt I could perform in the game."
Armstrong is seen as a beacon of light from Everton's academy set up and is so highly regarded that he has been touted as a future club captain.
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In the game against Bournemouth, the away support was so loud, and their opposition to the potential deal so strong, it was heard by Everton's delegation at the Vitality stadium and relayed back to the ownership group in the United States.
"It was surreal to be honest," Armstrong added.
"I don't think I'll ever experience something like that [again]. I'm so grateful for it. I was trying to balance being starstruck by all the fans singing and showing how much passion they have, but obviously the game was still going on and I was up against some really high level players so I couldn't let my concentration go too much.
"It's the club I've been at all my life and I've always been in an Everton shirt, so for me to have that moment, the appreciation for the fans was massive for me. It's only motivated me more to kick on with the club."
Listen to the full chat by pressing below or on BBC Sounds here
