Faddy's going nowhere, says Irvine

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McFadden, a key part of Scotland's bid to reach the Euro 2008 finals, has been strongly linked with Celtic and a prospective £4m move in January.

Keeping their stars: Irvine said the Toffees have 'no plans' to sell James McFadden (right) or Andy Johnson

But Everton assistant manager Alan Irvine has made it clear that McFadden, who will play in Scotland's crunch Euro 2008 qualifier with Italy on Saturday, will not be sold.

Irvine told evertonTV: "If your players are doing well then other people will look at them and hope to sign them. But we are not looking to sell any players, we have been patiently building the squad and we are not looking to sell anyone.

"There was speculation recently about Andrew Johnson and he signed a new contract, so that shows what the club's intentions are as far as that is concerned.

"I believe there is a bit of speculation with Faddy now, but as I said with Andy, we have no plans to sell him or James McFadden."

McFadden has struggled to get into the Everton side this season. The Goodison Park club have Ayegbeni Yakubu, Johnson, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan all fighting for a place up front.

Irvine says: "There will be people who look at the number of strikers we have got and say that perhaps we have too many.

"But we have not had too many of them fit all at once so far this season and we hope that we will soon have them all to choose from.

"Sometimes we will play with one striker and sometimes with two strikers, and it is up to the ones that are in possession at that time to perform well and to score the goals that will keep them in the team."

Irvine will be watching with interest McFadden's progress against Italy at Hampden Park this weekend. He has already played a vital role in Scotland's campaign, netting crucial goals including the winner against France in Paris.

Irvine added: "He is already a legend in Scotland now, obviously the whole country there has been thrilled about the way that the team has done, and clearly Faddy has scored the crucial goals.

"And if he can do that again, he will be a god in Scotland - if he isn't already that just now."