Moyes tells strikers to keep scoring

The Everton manager, David Moyes, has warned his in-form strikers to keep scoring or face a spell out as he seeks to extend his side's winning start to the Premiership season at Blackburn Rovers tonight.

Moyes is relishing an abundance of riches in his forward line following the £8.6m signing of Andrew Johnson from Crystal Palace. Johnson made a scoring start against Watford at Goodison Park on Saturday, but Moyes insists even his star names are not safe with competition for places hotting up.

Moyes, who paired Johnson with James Beattie, said: "Andy is proven in the Premier League and we are sure he will do for us what he has done every other time he has been in this league. But from my point of view I don't really care who scores as long as we get the goals. We have got good competition with James McFadden and Victor Anichebe also in good form.

"I think all the strikers look good and we may rotate them. We want competition and if you are not playing well you cannot guarantee getting another game. We need it to be tough. The players know how I am and they know I will be fair but they are going to have to play well."

Moyes' chief concern ahead of the trip to Ewood Park is the state of his defence with the Portuguese left-back Nuno Valente facing a late fitness test after being substituted with a dead leg on Saturday. Valente's absence may see a recall for Gary Naysmith, or Joseph Yobo could switch to full-back to give Joleon Lescott his first Premiership start in the centre. Either way Moyes expects a tough test from Rovers who will be desperate to bounce back after an opening-day 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

"It is cruel because they have only played one game and they finished sixth in the Premiership last year," Moyes said. "They were without a few players and I am sure they will be a different team against us. The fans will want to see their new signings and it is always a tough place to go."