Everton rule out selling McFadden

James McFadden (left) is in the spotlight with Scotland facing Italy

Everton have stressed that they have no intention of selling James McFadden in January after the Scotland striker was linked with a move to Celtic.

Everton assistant manager Alan Irvine said: "There was speculation recently about Andrew Johnson and he signed a new contract.

"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. We have been patiently building a squad."

Irvine said he would not be surprised if there was interest in the 24-year-old, who is presently with the Scotland squad preparing for Saturday's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy.

"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," he said.

James has a year and a half of his contract left to run and I believe that Davie Moyes wants to offer him a new deal Agent Willie McKay

The English Premier League club also have Ayegbeni Yakubu, Johnson, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan all fighting for a place up front.

And McFadden, signed from Motherwell for £1.25m in 2003, has struggled to win a regular start this season.

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

"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."

McFadden has made 138 appearances for Everton, but almost half of those have been as a substitute and he was again on the bench for Saturday's draw with Chelsea.

However, his stock has risen after a couple of spectacular goals for Scotland this year, including the winner against France in Paris.

And Irvine will be watching events at Hampden Park with interest.

"He is already a legend in Scotland now," said the Everton assistant.

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"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."

Meanwhile, McFadden's agent believes that Everton manager David Moyes wants to extend the forward's contract.

"I haven't been able to speak to Davie Moyes, because he is on holiday at the moment," Willie McKay told BBC Sport.

"But James has a year and a half of his contract left to run and I believe that he wants to offer him a new deal."

McKay did not know of any interest from Celtic, even though the club are close to the 24-year-old forward's heart.

"If Celtic want him, they would have to contact Everton," said the agent.