Nottingham Forest 1, Everton 1

Jul 26 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Echo

Steven Pienaar, EFC player _320

THE phoney war is over. Now David Moyes can begin his pre-season preparations in earnest.

Everton’s summer cocktail of experienced defenders and youthful forwards enjoyed a last hurrah with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest last night.

After Nuno Valente had inadvertently given Forest the lead 10 minutes after the interval, 16-year-old Jose Baxter underlined his burgeoning potential with a spectacular equaliser.

Injuries and unavailability have forced Moyes into so far working with a small squad top-heavy on Academy and reserve players.

Late substitute appearances from Leighton Baines, Yakubu and Steven Pienaar brought a welcome degree of familiarity to the Everton line-up at the City Ground that will be extended into the tour of the United States.

But, as results have improved along with fitness levels, the club’s youngsters have demonstrated promise for the future.

In particular, Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling, two players that have long been tipped to make their mark, can expect regular first-team exposure this coming season.

It wasn’t all encouraging news for Moyes last night, however.

Mikel Arteta was forced off after just half-an-hour of his first start after surgery, although fears over an extended lay-off were allayed by Moyes afterwards.

And while Andy van der Meyde’s departure with a hamstring injury earlier in the game was less worrying, the last thing the Goodison manager needs is for an already busy treatment room to be further clogged up with the start of the Premier League season only three weeks away.

As at Preston three days earlier, the pre-match buzz concerned Andrew Johnson. The striker courted controversy by leaving Deepdale before kick-off on Tuesday, but last night he didn’t even make it as far as the ground.

Johnson’s absence from the squad – and subsequent flight to Chicago this afternoon – must surely be taken as a signal that the England international’s Goodison career is drawing to a close.

It’s a parting of the ways that has grown increasingly inevitable in recent weeks, although it wasn’t without justification that Moyes was so unhappy at Johnson’s decision to duck out of Tuesday’s friendly.

With Fulham happy to spend £10.5million on his services, Johnson’s imminent departure will at least help facilitate some serious squad strengthening.

Diego Milito of Real Zaragoza, Tottenham Hotspur’s Darren Bent and Sporting Lisbon playmaker Joao Moutinho remain high on Moyes’s wanted list.

And, despite the fine contribution from the youngsters so far this pre-season, it’s clear why Moyes believes "five or six" new recruits are required before the transfer window slams shut at the end of next month.