Now or never for Landon Donovan

To many European football supporters, the United States' attack-minded midfielder Landon Donovan is something of an enigma. He's played in Europe twice but never to his potential, and yet his stock Stateside is sky high.

He is considered his country's greatest ever footballing talent, but his inability to shine on the world stage does nothing for his global profile. The list of Americans who have made an impact in Europe is ever lengthening, and yet the man who has made the biggest impact since the demise of the original North American Soccer League doesn't get near it.

As a young man, Donovan spent time at Bayer Leverkusen, and returned to Germany earlier this year for a short loan spell with Bayern Munich. On both occasions, he failed to live up to his reputation in the States, raising serious questions about his maturity and his apparent comfort with being a big fish in a small pond.

When the United States is bidding to host another World Cup and making strides on the field, the biggest talent in the side should arguably be more ambitious than that. For better or worse, Europe is the epicentre of football's bowel movements and Donovan is most certainly good enough to take part in the money-driven flatulence.

As expected, it seems Donovan is heading back to Europe for another crack - only this time it's not Germany. Premier League side Everton are in talks with Major League Soccer for the LA Galaxy man and it's safe to say that life is a little different for Landon Donovan now.

Questions of his maturity have largely subsided thanks to assured captain's performances for both the Galaxy and the US national team. He's performed admirably in the wake of various David Beckham controversies in 2008 and 2009 and forged a relationship with the Englishman in which he is at least an equal partner.

The timing works too. Donovan was often said to be reluctant to move to Europe because of the career of wife Bianca Kajlich, but the two separated in the summer and Donovan can now head for Europe without family concerns. It sounds cold, but at this stage in his football career it could be just what he needed to fulfil his potential.

The January move to Merseyside is not sealed yet, but let's assume Donovan will play much of the second half of the Premier League season on loan at Goodison Park. What will he bring to the side?

On form, Donovan is a superb footballer. He is deceptively quick, possesses excellent vision and a good range of passing, and a decent eye for goal. He can take a mean set piece and is almost a cert from the penalty spot, MLS Cup's shoot-out miss notwithstanding. Everton lack some creativity without Mikel Arteta and Donovan's signing would go some way to making up that shortfall.

Jo, Yakubu and, in particular, Louis Saha, will appreciate his input. He provides chance after chance after chance for a good finisher, and more often than not those opportunities are placed right where strikers want them - just ask Mike Magee.

The concern, of course, is that Donovan simply isn't meant to play in Europe. Perhaps he has a mental block when it comes to European football and his stints in Germany were indicative of a more worrying trend.

The question mark remains, but it's not over his quality. I think he'll do just fine.

(Pic via Glenn Davis Soccer)