With David Moyes in the throes of his second consecutive season-long striker crisis, the loan deal that brought David Beckham’s LA Galaxy team-mate, US international record goal-scorer Landon Donovan, to Goodison Park may be just the New Year tonic that the Scot required.

 

His debut performance at the Emirates in one of only two Premier League and seven games in the country as a whole to be played on Saturday confirmed that he is definitely not here for a holiday. The 27 year-old American with a goal every three games average in his 120-match international career made a good first impression in his Premiership bow and cited Beckham, who is currently with Milan in Italy, as an influence on his decision. 

"It is not just about coming in for a few months and having a kick-about," he said, "This is the middle of the season, they have a few injuries and need immediate help so I have to be ready and that helped me prepare. David (Beckham) and I speak a lot and he is confident I will do fine," he added. "Knowing him, being around him and playing with him I can see what it takes to make it at a place like this and if you are not ready and prepared you can get passed by."

International team-mate Tim Howard will be on hand to help Donovan settle in on Merseyside.