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EVERYONE who has ever sat in the stands at Goodison Park will at some point have dreamed about playing for Everton.

Doubtless many, whether young or old, still do dream - and if the chance presented itself to have just two minutes wearing a Royal Blue shirt - they would give all they could afford to do so.

No prizes for guessing where this is going.

If, as looks increasingly likely, Andrew Johnson heads for pastures new, do not spend too much time mourning his departure or make accusations that the club he is leaving lacks ambition.

ANDREW JOHNSON was on the brink of ending his Everton career today after Fulham had a £10.5m bid accepted by the Blues.

The England international travelled to Deepdale with the rest of Everton's squad for last night's 1-0 win over Preston North End but was not included in either the starting line-up or among the substitutes.

He will now be given permission to discuss terms with Fulham over a move to Craven Cottage and it is now inevitable that Johnson will bring the curtain down on his two-year stay at Goodison Park in the next few days.

Wigan Athletic and Sunderland had led the chase for Johnson, who has scored 22 goals in 74 appearances, but Fulham are the only side prepared to make Everton an offer that will provide them with a healthy profit on the £8.6m they paid for him in May 2006.

BOTH sets of fans gave Alan Irvine the occasions he craved by uniting to chant his name at Deepdale last night.

But it was left to David Moyes to show his former number two who was boss.

And not before time during this pre-season friendly campaign too, as Phil Jagielka headed in the eighth-minute goal that halted Everton's run of two successive pre-season friendly defeats.

The surprise omission of Andrew Johnson ahead of kick-off meant they achieved it with, for the most part, a hugely inexperienced front six in which only 17-year-old Jack Rodwell played in the Premier League last season.

But their performance meant their manager, unlike his friend and opposite number Irvine, could be pleased with the result he achieved against his former club - and it was certainly a huge improvement on the last game.

ANDREW JOHNSON'S Everton future was thrown into fresh doubt last night as he missed the friendly win at Preston.

The striker left Deepdale after he was left out of David Moyes's 17-man squad.

Johnson was included in the side for the previous friendly against Cambridge United at the weekend and played a full 90 minutes.

And he is believed to have been fit for selection for the game against North End but wasn't even named among the substitutes.

Speculation that Everton are close to accepting a bid in the region of £10million for him has intensified this week, with Fulham, Wigan and Sunderland ready to pounce.

But the Goodison club have so far only intended to consider cashing in on their former record signing when they have another forward lined up to replace him.

Everton officials made no comment on the situation last night.

Story by Neil Hodgson

EVERTON had to shelve the launch of the club's new kit because the first batch was not good enough.

The ECHO understands strip manufacturer Umbro decided to pull the original set of shirts after suffering problems with its producers in the Far East.

The firm is said to have cut its workforce back after a big fall in demand for its England shirts after the home nation failed to qualify for this summer's European championships.

ALAN IRVINE urged Evertonians to ignore their side's early friendly defeats - and backed David Moyes to have the Blues primed for when it really matters.

The Blues have lost their opening pre-season fixtures against FC Sion and Cambridge United, with Moyes now demanding a positive response from his players when they travel to his former club Preston this evening.

It will be the first time he and Irvine have gone head-to-head since Irvine ended his five-and-a-half year spell as Moyes' trusted lieutenant to take over the hot seat at Deepdale. And the Preston boss is relishing the contest.

ALAN IRVINE is confident that David Moyes will continue to make Everton a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League this season.

And the Preston manager has backed his mentor to make the signings that will ensure he continues to build on his achievements at the Goodison Park helm.

The former management duo go head to head for the first time since Irvine left his role as Moyes's number two, when his Preston side host Everton at Deepdale tonight

THEY have their own personal reasons for wanting to get the better of Everton at Deepdale tonight.

But former Liverpool forward Neil Mellor is expecting his desire to silence the travelling hordes to be reigned in somewhat by his manager.

Alan Irvine might be keen to give former manager David Moyes a first-hand look at his managerial credentials, which in truth need little scrutiny after the way he saved North End from relegation form the Championship after taking over last November. But the Scot's desire to win his team's only home friendly of the summer won't extend to giving Mellor any extra motivation in his team talk.

EVERTON will face a fight to sign Joao Moutinho after his club declared they had no intention of selling him.

Sporting Lisbon have previously quoted that only a fee in the region of £20million would be enough for them to part with the Portuguese international midfielder.

Everton had been hoping to lower the asking price in their attempts to land Moutinho but in an interview on Portuguese radio, Sporting president Soares Franco outlined his determination to hold on to their 21-year-old captain

MIKEL ARTETA admitted it was great to be back after coming off the bench in Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Cambridge United.

The 26-year-old Spaniard returned for the Blues ahead of schedule after having surgery to cure an abdominal problem.

"I wanted to play 15 or 20 minutes and I've done it," he said. "I didn't feel anything at all so it's good news.

"I expected to play my first game in America so I am two weeks ahead of schedule, so I need to take it easy as well.