I knew this was coming.

I knew it while standing in the newsroom here in Abu Dhabi two nights ago, stopping on my way out out of the building and watching via computer the final minutes of the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City.

Everton coach David Moyes substituted for Landon Donovan in the 90th minute of the match … and Landon got a huge ovation from the Everton home crowd of 37,378. The same crowd that had chanted “USA” every time Donovan stood over a dead ball.

And it made me wonder …

1. In his club career (as opposed to international career) Has Landon Donovan ever had that many people cheer for him — just him — at once?

2. Will he find the intensity of the whole English soccer experience intoxicating?

3. Will he attempt to extend his stay in England?

Let’s see if we can figure out some answers, though we will give you one right off: Landon at least is thinking about extending his stay, according to the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

To recap: Landon is spending 10 weeks at Everton on a loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

The way this was set up, Landon is scheduled to be back in Los Angeles by the middle of March. While the Premier League season continues on.

The Galaxy/MLS hold the rights to his services.

So,  for Landon to stay on through the end of the European season (as David Beckham will, in Milan), he will have to come to some sort of accommodation with the MLS/Galaxy.

Would he want to make that happen?

If he is on the receiving end of many more outburts of adulation of the sort he got Saturday night, when Everton rolled over Manchester City, 2-0, he might.

So far, it’s been one big lovefest, which I’m not sure any of us saw coming. Including Landon.

Looking back, we can see that his arrival was heralded around the club as a sort of “cavalry to the rescue” thing. Several of Everton’s attacking players were hurt or off in Africa or out of form, and management told fans during the holiday break that it was going to plug the hole by bringing in America’s best player.

Then, in his first few minutes with the club, he swung in a nice corner kick that Everton turned into a goal, and it’s been off to the races, since. Everton tied that match, on the road at Arsenal (the team that thrashed Everton 6-1 back on the opening weekend), and then Everton came back to handle Man City at home, and that’s four points and zero defeats since The Yank arrived on the right wing.

Landon says he is surprised by the intensity of his welcome. And how amazing must it be given his long career in MLS, with its small, often limp crowds?

But can he make a lengthier stay happen?

Historically, Landon Donovan pretty much has gotten what he wants. Whether that’s going or staying. He wanted out of Germany? He got out. Twice. He wanted to play in Los Angeles? It happened. He wanted loans to Bayern Munich and Everton, and got them. He asked for an extention in Los Angeles. He got one.

To stay with Everton through May would, however, be his biggest trick yet. It would require:

1. Everton wanting to keep him and making it worth his while. Everton is not a rich club and it plays in one of the smallest stadiums in the Premiership. Donovan might be willing to stick around for the sake of improving his “brand” recognition, but cash … could be an issue.

2. Will the Galaxy/MLS let him go? Historically, the league has let anyone go if they got what they felt was a fair transfer fee, in return. But would the league allow one of its 2-3 marquee players disappear for months … or maybe years … when he’s signed through 2013? He may be the one exception to the “we’ll let him go for any reasonable offer” rule. The Galaxy/MLS could play hardball here, and that would severely muck up things.

3. Will the Galaxy/MLS let him extend his stay through the end of the season? This could happen. It would allow Landon to play another 8-10 matches, at a very high level, in the run-up to the World Cup; it would allow Everton to pay him as a part-timer; and it would give MLS and the Galaxy some certainty about his returning, in late July or early August, after the World Cup.

Then there’s this: Everton has four just huge matches in February — at Liverpool, home against Chelsea, home against Manchester United, at Tottenham. What living soccer standout wouldn’t want to be part of those? And will the experience of it make him want more?

Anyway, lots of balls in play, now. England, the Premiership, adoring fans, a contract with MLS, a less-than-wealthy Everton club, forfeiting that big MLS salary, the World Cup, Landon’s preference for being “home” in SoCal.

Let’s keep an eye on what happens over the next 4-6 weeks. If Everton still loves Landon and he still loves Everton … something could get done.