As was the case two years ago at this time, the Liverpool side Everton suddenly are rolling. As was the case two years ago, Landon Donovan is playing for Everton, on loan from the LA Galaxy, and is being given a significant portion of the credit.

Two years ago, Landon went home at the end of February, as arranged before he ever left the U.S.

Should he do the same again? That is the plan, at the moment.

Or should he and Everton and the Galaxy and Major League Soccer look into ways to keep him in England through the end of the Premier League season?

Here are the issues:

–Everton is not going to win the Premier League. They also are unlikely to be able to finish in the top six, and guarantee a lucrative place in European club competition next year. But their recent surge (five points in three league matches) makes it quite unlikely they will be relegated, either. So in the sense of “Europe or relegation,” Landon would not be a difference-maker

–Everton could, however, reach the FA Cup quarterfinals before Landon is due to leave. They are home to either Blackpool or Sheffield Wednesday on February 18. Landon will play in that match, presumably.

–For Landon’s loan to be extended, Everton is going to have to pay him. And presumably MLS/the Galaxy, too. Does Everton, a club without a whole lot of money, want to make that investment? Two English colleagues of mine at The National say: “Absolutely, if they are in the quarterfinals.”

–MLS and the Galaxy — specifically, Bruce Arena — would have to agree to this, too. Normally, it might not be a huge issue, if Landon and Everton presented a united front and some cash were going from east to west over the Atlantic.

The complicating factor this time around is the Concacaf Champions League. The Galaxy are in the quarterfinals of that event, and the winner goes to the increasingly important Fifa Club World Cup, and the next two matches are in March. Basically, Landon would be playing with the Galaxy in the CCL almost as soon as he got off the plane from England. Hmmm.

Everton’s season ends in mid-May. Basically, 10 weeks after Landon is scheduled to leave.

Will they want to keep him? They did two years ago, and David Moyes, the coach, is a huge fan.

Landon has set up the past three Everton goals — the two in the FA Cup victory over Fulham, and the one by Darron Gibson to beat City, and here is primitive video of the latter.

If he leaves on schedule, he is down to four games with Everton: Away to Wigan on Saturday, home against Chelsea the following week, the FA Cup game on the 18th and at Liverpool, probably the following weekend. Then he’s supposed to leave.

What does Landon want to do? We can only guess; he has entered a cone of silence, which is typical for all Premier League players.

Certainly, he is going well, even if he has yet to score a goal himself. Everton is playing better, and excitement is high. He certainly looked fully integrated into the team during that goal celebration.

Does he want to see how deep Everton can reach in the FA Cup, knowing that the two Manchester clubs are already out of the competition? Would he like to see if Everton can work their way up to seventh or eighth?

There is potential upside for Everton, too. They get an extra 250,000 pounds for each slot they climb in the table. That is, 10th is worth 500,000 quid more than 12th, 1 million more than 14th, etc. Everton at this writing is 10th in the table, one point behind both Stoke and Sunderland. Could Landon make a half-million-pound difference if he stays till the end? And could he make it in another way — helping them stay ahead of the five clubs right on their tail, Norwich, Aston Villa, Fulham, Swansea and West Bromwich.

And then there is the subject of Brand Donovan. He has never been overtly interested in that sort of thing, unlike, say, David Beckham. But the more success he and Everton have, the higher his global profile will rise. Does that matter to him? To the Galaxy? To MLS?

What I would recommend:

Everton and Landon begin talks with MLS and Galaxy. If Everton gets into the FA Cup quarterfinals, and they will know on February 18 (barring a tie, and a replay) if they have … then things can go into motion.

If Everton has something supremely tangible to play for, like the FA Cup, go for it. And let the Galaxy do as best they can against Toronto in the Concacaf tournament. They have Beckham, still. And Edson Buddle has just come back.

Tough call, but Landon may want to turn this loan into the whole second half of the Premier League season.