Landon Donovan nixes loan move

The suspense is over. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan is staying stateside.

Yesterday, both Donovan and the team announced that LA's No. 10 will forgo any potential loan opportunities when the international transfer window re-opens on January 1. Donovan, who played more than 50 games with the Galaxy and U.S. National Team while on loan with Everton in 2010, was named to the MLS Best XI team again last season after scoring seven goals and adding an MLS-best 16 assists in 24 regular season games.

"We think in the best interest of the club and the player that Landon continues his postseason break and begins preparations for what will be a challenging year in 2011 at both the domestic and international levels,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “We expect Landon to join our club for the start of preseason training next month as we begin to prepare for the 2011 MLS season.”

For Donovan, the news was bittersweet, but staying local ultimately prevailed over one final curtain call with the Tofeees of the Everton Football Club.

“While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan,” Donovan said. “I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the National Team throughout the upcoming year.

"I look forward to re-joining my Galaxy teammates for the start of preseason training next month and beginning our quest for another MLS Cup championship.”

Now, the question remains: will it pay off this time around?

A.J., Omar and Sean to the forefront

Defenders A.J. De La Garza, Omar Gonzalez and Sean Franklin were named to the U.S. Men's National Team's 24-man roster ahead of its Jan. 22 friendly with Chile.

The camp begins Jan. 4.

“The timing is right to assess many of the younger players and to broaden the player pool as we look forward to the next three years,” Bradley said. “These extended camps give the coaching staff an opportunity to work with these players closely, and at the same time expose them to what the environment and expectations are like at the international level.”

Gonzalez made his international debut on August 10, playing the full 90 minutes in central defense in a 2-0 loss to Brazil at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

In two years with the Galaxy, Gonzalez has appeared in 58 regular season games, scoring three times and adding one assist. The Galaxy’s 2010 Defender of the Year, Gonzalez has started all seven of the club’s postseason games over the past two years, adding a goal and an assist, while helping LA reach MLS Cup in 2009 and win the Supporters’ Shield in 2010.

Franklin is in camp with the U.S. for the third time in his career, though he is still looking to make his first appearance for the Red White and Blue.

The 25-year-old was first called into Bob Bradley’s squad in November 2008 ahead of a 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala in Colorado. Franklin did not play in that game, but he was back in camp with the U.S. in January 2009, only to be forced to leave camp and undergo sports hernia surgery. In three years with the Galaxy, Franklin has appeared in 65 regular season games while helping his team reach the postseason twice.

The Galaxy’s second-round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland, DeLaGarza has established himself as one of the most versatile and reliable young defenders in the league. The 23-year-old has been used on the right and left sides of defense, as well as in central defense, where he played for much of the second half of last season.

De La Garza has appeared in 39 regular season games for the Galaxy in his two years with the club, scoring twice and adding an assist. He was used primarily as at outside back during his rookie season in 2009 when he helped the Galaxy return to MLS Cup for the first time since 2005.

Here is your 24-man roster ahead of the Jan. 22 match with La Roja.

GOALKEEPERS (4): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (9): A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles Galaxy), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ugo Ihemelu (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Ryan Miller (Halmstads BK), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Anthony Wallace (Colorado Rapids), Marvell Wynne (Colorado Rapids)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Eric Alexander (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sam Cronin (San Jose Earthquakes), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Dax McCarty (D.C. United), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

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