Where Will Landon Donovan Fit In at Everton FC?

Since the Landon Donovan loan deal to Everton has been touted, it has led to a series of questions about the nature of the deal and how it will benefit the US national team and also Everton.

Everton's current attacking options are Louis Saha,Yakubu, Jo, Victor Anichebe, and James Vaughan.

Yakubu is currently out of form after returning from an eleven-month layoff. He has not scored yet this season, however he definitely has the potential to do so, having scored 72 Premier League goals. Jo, the on-loan striker, has also struggled this season with only three goals.

Anichebe and Vaughan are both still out with long-term injuries, therefore Everton's attacking options are limited.

However Everton manager David Moyes tends to favour a 4-5-1 formation, or a 4-4-1-1 formation with Tim Cahill as the behind the man behind the lone striker. Currently, Moyes favours Louis Saha when fit as his main striker. Saha has been Everton's best-performing player this season having already scored eleven goals.

One has to wonder what position Donovan would play at Goodison Park. Having looked at Everton's favoured formation, it is difficult to see where he would fit in. When playing a lone striker it is difficult to see Donovan usurping Saha. Moyes' faith in Tim Cahill behind the striker would mean Donovan is probably a backup in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

However, when Everton play 4-4-2 at home versus weaker opposition, Donovan is more likely to fit in up front.

One other option for Moyes is to utilise Donovan's creativity on the wing. Since the injury to Mikel Arteta, Everton's star and most creative player, the role of Steven Pienaar has become even more important. If Moyes were to play Donovan in Arteta's role it would remove some of the pressure from Pienaar and Bilyaletdinov.

David Moyes is looking to bring a talented experienced attacking player to Goodison to help end the current struggles in a similar manner to the 2002 loan-signing of Brian McBride, who scored four goals in eight Premier League matches .

Everton's current injury crisis means the addition of a man with as much international experience as Donovan can only be good thing for Everton. Also, it would be good for the U.S. National Team for Donovan to continue to play competitive football ahead of South Africa.