Everton are in talks to bring USA international striker Landon Donovan to Goodison Park on loan from LA Galaxy.

With the Major League Soccer season having finished, the Toffees are keen to strike a deal similar to the one which will see Donovan’s team-mate David Beckham head back to AC Milan next month.

David Moyes is eager to bolster his squad for the second half of the season with Everton hit hard by injuries and struggling towards the wrong end of the Premier League table.

The experienced forward, who is set to captain his country at the World Cup this summer when USA will meet England, spent a similar spell with Bayern Munich last season.

“Landon is a player David Moyes has identified as someone he would like to bring to the club,” chief executive Robert Elstone told the club’s official website.

“We are working to make that happen and hope we can reach agreement soon with all the appropriate parties.”

Donovan could join his new team-mates on 2nd January if negotiations are successful before heading back to Los Angeles in March for the new MLS campaign.

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Everton boss David Moyes has confessed that he feared for his makeshift side before they produced a thrilling comeback in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Second-half goals from Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson appeared to have sent Spurs back above Arsenal as the two North London rivals continue to exchange third place in the Premier League.

But injury-hit Everton, struggling at the wrong end of the table, produced a spirited comeback in the last 12 minutes to earn a draw as Louis Saha scored before Tim Cahill equalised ahead of Tim Howard’s injury-time penalty save from Defoe.

Moyes had pressed Joseph Yobo into action when he was not fit and the centre-back limped off in the first half to leave Lucas Neill and Tony Hibbert as a makeshift defensive partnership.

Everton’s boss was therefore understandably concerned after falling behind, but he could not fault his players’ attitude in their comeback.

He told Sky Sports 1: “At 2-0 down against Tottenham with the team we put out, I was thinking it was going to be worse actually.

Energetic

“But credit to the boys. They kept at it and they got a great result.”

Moyes had special praise for Seamus Coleman, Yobo’s replacement, as the youngster produced an energetic display to suggest that his start in the 5-0 Europa League thrashing at Benfica in October has been forgotten.

The 21-year-old defended well and set up Saha after a bustling run past Spurs’ Gareth Bale, leaving his boss more than impressed.

“He undoubtedly changed it,” said Moyes. “He did really well.”

The Scot felt Howard’s penalty stop in the closing stages after Hibbert had floored Wilson Palacios was a slice of fortune that has been missing in previous weeks.

Moyes added: “I was sitting there thinking we were due a bit of luck. I think we earned it. The boys stuck at it and we got it (luck) with a good save.”

Tottenham squandered a two-goal lead as manager Harry Redknapp’s belief that they are a genuine threat to the alliance of the Premier League’s Big Four took a knock when Everton produced a dramatic comeback in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson appeared to have allowed Spurs to regain third place in the table from Arsenal, but their hosts drew level late in the piece through Louis Saha and Tim Cahill before Tim Howard saved Defoe’s stoppage-time penalty.

The first half had remained goalless but both sides had their chances as Peter Crouch and Defoe wasted opportunities for Spurs, while Everton exposed visiting left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto on several occasions.

Tottenham came storming at injury-hit Everton following half-time and duly took the lead two minutes after the break when the superb Aaron Lennon crossed for Defoe to side-foot a half-volley past Howard for his 12th league goal of the season.

David Moyes’ strugglers regretted slack play by makeshift centre-back Tony Hibbert at the opener but it was Lucas Neill, who moved centrally after Joseph Yobo limped off in the first half, at fault when Dawson headed home Niko Kranjcar’s 59th minute corner.

However, Everton, who broke the cartel at the table’s summit in 2005, created a thrilling finale as Saha converted an excellent 78th minute assist from Yobo’s impressive replacement Seamus Coleman, before Cahill equalised with four minutes to play.

There was still to be another remarkable twist as Hibbert floored Wilson Palacios with a body check inside the 18-yard area in time added on, but Howard was the hero as he saved Defoe’s poorly-taken penalty.

Moyes’ side, ravaged by a lengthening injury list, are three points above the relegation zone with little prospect of seeing their major stars return before the New Year.

Things started to deteriorate for the hosts after Crouch had fired over when well placed and Howard had denied Defoe’s shot when he cut inside Hibbert.

Inexplicable

The Toffees had obviously pressed Yobo into service when he was not fully fit – having missed the midweek Europa League win with a hamstring injury – and in the 15th minute he was replaced by 21-year-old Coleman, making only his second league appearance.

Jack Rodwell, back after a groin strain, was then booked by referee Andre Marriner for a late tackle on Kranjcar despite appearing to get the ball first.

On-loan Manchester City striker Jo continues to frustrate Everton fans and he showed why within the space of a couple of minutes midway through the half.

First he fired a low snap-shot from the left of the penalty area just past the far post before inexplicably getting his legs in a tangle six yards out and bundling wide Steven Pienaar’s perfect cross.

Everton continued to give it their all, however, and Dawson was booked for bringing down Cahill before Leighton Baines curled in a free-kick which had Heurelho Gomes diving to his left.

But Defoe remained a danger and when Palacios and Kranjcar combined through the inside-right channel the striker whipped a shot inches outside the far post.

In the 36th minute Assou-Ekotto was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after appearing to scrape his boot down the back of Cahill’s head as the pair lay on the floor and then pushing the Australia midfielder and Marouane Fellaini.

Fellaini was also cautioned in the same incident, which prompted the Belgian midfielder to explode with rage and he should have been sent off seconds later for elbowing Crouch.

Once the football resumed Hibbert’s perfectly-timed tackle and Howard’s large frame twice denied Defoe.

Assou-Ekotto was replaced at half-time by Gareth Bale but the real impact came from the other flank just two minutes later.

Double change

Lennon whipped in a cross from the right and Defoe nipped in front of Hibbert, who was slow to react, at the near post to score.

Crouch almost made it 2-0 seven minutes later when he poked the ball wide, although Howard appeared to get the slightest of touches.

Baines was booked for going through the back of Vedran Corluka and then saw his clearance charged down by Lennon who set up Tom Huddlestone for a shot which was deflected behind.

From Kranjcar’s 59th minute corner Neill allowed Dawson to escape him in the penalty area and the centre-back dived low to score in successive league matches.

The goal prompted a double change with Saha and Aiyegbeni Yakubu replacing Jo and Rodwell.

With 13 minutes to go Crouch’s left-footed shot beat Howard but also the far post before Everton got themselves back in the game.

Coleman drove towards the byline before crossing to Saha who fired high into the net.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Saha, with an overhead kick, both went close late on before Cahill equalised with a low header from Baines’ cross four minutes from time.

Two minutes into added time Hibbert’s challenge on Palacios earned Tottenham a penalty but Defoe blasted straight at Howard.

Everton risk being drawn into a relegation scrap ahead of their home clash with high-flying Tottenham.

The Toffees have established themselves as regular qualifiers for European competition in recent years but they have made a disappointing start to the new campaign.

David Moyes’ plans have been thrown into turmoil by an injury curse that shows no sign of relenting, with three more players struck down in the midweek Europa League match against AEK Athens.

Everton did at least manage to claim a morale-boosting victory in a rain-soaked Greece as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov’s early goal carried them through to the last 32.

They can now switch their focus to domestic matters and Moyes will be anxious to pick up another win as Everton are currently just two points clear of the drop zone.

Moyes will not be able to freshen up his side as much as he would like after three successive Premier League losses, with Jo, Sylvain Distin and Dan Gosling all doubtful after being forced off against AEK.

Leon Osman has a foot injury, while Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta and Phil Neville are among the long-term absentees.

John Heitinga is suspended after collecting a fifth yellow card of the season and those players still standing may again be asked to fill unfamiliar positions.

Spurs news

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is convinced that his side can finish in the top four and they currently occupy fourth place after an impressive start to the season.

An under-strength Manchester United side knocked Spurs out of the Carling Cup in midweek and Redknapp will want to see a positive response.

Having made changes for the trip to Old Trafford, the manager is set to revert back to something like the line-up that drew 1-1 with Aston Villa last weekend.

Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong should form the central defensive partnership once again with Ledley King (hamstring) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) both still missing.

Carlo Cudicini is facing a long spell out after injuring his wrists and pelvis in a motorcycling accident, although Luka Modric is closing in on a comeback following a fractured fibula.

Redknapp must decide whether to start with Peter Crouch or Robbie Keane alongside Jermain Defoe up front.

Possible starting XIs

Everton: Howard, Neill, Hibbert, Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini, Baxter, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch.

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