DAVID MOYES faces a battle to persuade Landon Donovan to agree a second loan stint at Everton FC in the New Year.
Moyes has made no secret of his desire to bring Donovan back to Goodison as he looks to bolster his attacking options.
But the United States international has given no indication he wants another spell in the Premier League, having impressed while scoring twice in 13 appearances for Everton after arriving for a 10-week loan spell in January 2010.
Donovan was mulling over a return to Goodison last year before opting instead to rest during the MLS close season following his exertions in the previous summer's World Cup.
The 29-year-old recently scored the goal that won LA Galaxy the MLS Cup with a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamos.
Meanwhile, Jack Rodwell admits Everton have to break the habit of conceding the first goal in games.
Sunday's 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke was the seventh time in nine Premier League games the Goodison outfit had gone behind and ended up losing.
That it resulted in a fourth league defeat in seven home matches this season – while extending their wait for a home league clean sheet to nine games – only compounded the problem.
