Everton This article is more than 14 years oldLandon Donovan – I was wrong to criticise David Beckham at LA Galaxy
This article is more than 14 years old I didn't give him a chance, admits LA Galaxy forwardAmerican backs veteran for place in England World Cup squad
Landon Donovan, Everton's new loan signing, said he was wrong to dismiss David Beckham as a poor leader and team-mate at LA Galaxy and believes the midfielder's form will warrant a place in England's World Cup squad this summer.
The United States international has joined David Moyes' side until the MLS season opens on 27 March to maintain match fitness and to experience the Premier League before a World Cup campaign that opens against England on 12 June in Rustenburg. The 27-year-old has arrived on Merseyside on the back of a successful season with LA Galaxy, where he won the Golden Boot award for a fifth successive year and was named the MLS Most Valuable Player, having regained the captaincy from Beckham after the latter's controversial decision to remain on loan at Milan.
Beckham's absence from the start of the MLS season prompted a withering condemnation from Donovan, who claimed the former England captain "wasn't committed" to LA Galaxy and should have been consigned to the substitutes' bench on his return from Italy. Last season brought reconciliation for the pair, however, and the USA's all-time leading goalscorer claims Beckham has since disproved the allegations thrown at him.
"Off the field I've learnt a lot about myself in the last few years with everything that's gone on and I've learnt a lot about David," said Donovan, who spent a similar, albeit unsuccessful loan spell with Bayern Munich last year. "He's a very humble, good human being. Unfortunately I didn't give him a chance to show that. I had an idea of what he was like before he got here and that was unfair on my part.
"On the field he's a fantastic soccer player and, for me, very suited to the way I play. I like to make runs and with someone like that who can pass the ball, it's a very good combination. David is just so famous around the world, so sometimes you have expectations or ideas of what people are and you don't give them a chance. I learnt a lot about myself in that way and David is just a good person and a good team-mate."
Donovan revealed he received a text from Beckham shortly after England were drawn to meet the USA in South Africa this summer and believes that, even with the midfielder turning 35 in May, his team-mate can have an influence on the World Cup. "Absolutely he can," said Donovan, who will be in the Everton squad for tomorrow's game at Arsenal. "He played 76 minutes on Wednesday and was instrumental in a lot of important plays for AC Milan. In my opinion he's a very good footballer and I can't imagine him not being considered for a spot at least."
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