Bruce Arena credits Landon Donovan’s improved performance to his three month cameo at Everton.
He relayed this to Phil Neville, the Toffees captain, who spent five weeks this summer in the USA and was using the LA Galaxy training facilities to rehabilitate from knee surgery.
“As soon as I got to the Athletes Performance Centre the LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena took me round for a tour and the first thing he said was thanks for what you did for Landon because he came back from Everton a different player,” Neville exclusively told evertontv. “I think that was probably the biggest step in Landon’s career and we have played a massive part in that.
Phil Neville has been torn between club and country. He describes the one on one situation that Emile Heskey found himself against US and Everton goalie, Tim Howard.
“I watched the England v USA game over in America and it was amazing because Heskey went through one-on-one and you of course want Heskey to score but you also want Tim to make the save! It is a strange one because you know Tim and Landon. I was delighted for the two of them, I thought they were two of the best players on the pitch in that game.”
He sees very good things for Tim Howard:
” For me, Tim Howard, if he keeps progressing, could be one of the best goal keepers in Europe.”
Phil, that should be obvious by now. He is already proving to be one of the best goalies in the world. And Donovan might become a serious Premier League target after this World Cup is over.