Soccer Player from Redlands Ready for Action in the English Premier League

A soccer player who grew up kicking balls near the San Gorgonio Pass is back in England and ready for action with Premiership side Everton FC of Liverpool.

Landon Donovan, 29, the Los Angeles Galaxy captain who is considered by some observers the best soccer player in the history of the United States, hopes to see playing time Wednesday in a Barclay's Premier League match against Bolton.

Donovan is on a 10-week loan from the Galaxy and he arrived in Liverpool last week. This is his second stint with Everton, where he impressed supporters in early 2010.

A March 2010 headline in the New York Times summed up Donovan's impact during his first stay at the club founded in 1878: "English Fans Find an Unlikely Love for a Yank."

A few months later, when Donovan scored an injury-time winner over Algeria to put the United States into the Round of 16 at the South Africa 2010 World Cup, Argentine futebol announcer Andres Cantor hailed Donovan as "El mejor jugador de la historia de los Etados Unidos!"

Donovan told Everton TV this week he is re-connecting with his former teammates and "I'm happy to be back."

"I'm excited, a little disappointed I couldn't play New Years Day, but it's just the way it goes. But it's nice to be here and start training and my hope is I'll feel fit enough and ready, and that the manager wants to use me on Wednesday against Bolton. It'd be nice to start back at Goodison and get going."

Everton Manager David Moyes has hinted Donovan could see playing time against Bolton, the Sporting News reported Tuesday afternoon.

Kickoff for Wednesday's match at Goodison Park is noon Pacific and 8 p.m. Liverpool time.

A match preview on the Daily Telegraph of London's web site does not list Donovan as a starter but states Moyes can call on Donovan in the lede.

It was not clear Tuesday whether the match would air live on cable outlets available in Southern California.

Donovan was born in Ontario and attended East Valley High in Redlands. He is coming off a successful season with the Galaxy, teaming with Irish striker Robbie Keane and former England captain David Beckham to win the club's third MLS Cup in nine years.