And of his imminent departure, the 28-year-old said: “It would be bittersweet either way.

“I’d like to go back home and start with my team-mates, I miss them, because I have played with them for three, four, five years in LA, if I leave here I will be excited to go home, but it would be sad to leave here.”

Donovan made an influential bow in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal in January and has gone on to score twice in 12 appearances.

And he believes he has become a better player as a result of his Everton experience.

“I’ve learned so much,” said the American.

“The biggest thing from a professional standpoint is to keep yourself going everyday because physically it’s draining and mentally and emotionally as well, and I have a lot of respect for the Lampards and Gerrards, who do it day in day out, who just keep going, even Bainesy here, who plays every week.

“But I’ve not been surprised. I believe in my ability and what I do and I am at a point in my life where I know what I have to give and I bring that out of myself a lot more often than I ever did.

“If I do that, I know I am going to be successful, so when I think back, it’s been great, there have been some incredible results and performances but I know I am capable of that.

“Being at Everton has absolutely improved me as a player.

“It’s impossible not to. I have learned a lot technically, tactically, how to keep myself motivated.”