Everton boss David Moyes has insisted star striker Andrew Johnson is not for sale.

After scoring just six goals last term and suffering a series of injury problems, it had been suggested Johnson would be allowed to leave Goodison Park.

Indeed, it has been claimed the sale of €10million-rated Johnson was a necessity for Moyes to complete his squad strengthening exercise.

However, Moyes has rejected the theory and stated the England international is going nowhere.

"Andy Johnson is not for sale - it is that simple," Moyes told the club's official website, www.everton.com. "He is a highly-valued member of my senior squad and I look forward to seeing him when the players report back for pre-season training."

Johnson enjoyed a superb first season on Merseyside following his move from Crystal Palace two years ago and was an integral part of Everton's quest to reach the Uefa Cup.

The 27-year-old was still the subject of transfer speculation and that has only intensified this summer even though he has signed a five-year contract extension.

Johnson himself has rejected talk of a departure, insisting the speculation was "a load of rubbish".

Nevertheless, Moyes has felt it necessary to speak out to try to dampen the rumour mill around Johnson, who is expected back at Everton's Finch Farm training ground next week along with most of his team-mates.

However, two men who will not be there are Joseph Yobo and Tony Hibbert, who could both be injury doubts for the season opener against Paul Ince's Blackburn Rovers on August 16th.

Hibbert has been struggling with a knee injury picked up at the back end of last season, with the full-back still not sure whether he will need surgery.

And Yobo could be missing as well following confirmation the Toffeemen's influential central defender has been plagued by an ankle injury during Nigeria's recent World Cup qualifying programme.

"I have had an ankle injury for a while," confirmed Yobo. "I was supposed to rest it but we had crucial games to play and were short at the back so I just had to force myself to play."