Donovan has been on a tear after his lackluster Cup effort

Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan has received plenty of criticism since returning home from a lackluster performance at the World Cup with the U.S. National Team.

Now back with the Galaxy, which faces Real Salt Lake on Saturday, it appears Donovan's trying to prove a point.

Since returning to MLS action, he's led his squad to a pair of wins — a 2-0 road victory against Kansas City and a 1-0 home victory over New York. Donovan scored all three goals.

"Landon 3, everybody else 0," joked RSL coach John Ellinger. " . . . It's not a news flash to the rest of us. We all know whatever team Landon's on — how he goes, the rest of the team goes."

Salt Lake might be the next victim.

During RSL's short history, Donovan has been dominant against Real. He's scored four goals and has collected two assists in five games vs. RSL.

TALLEY WILL START: According to Ellinger, Carey Talley, who missed Tuesday's draw with Chivas USA because of yellow-card accumulation, will return to the starting lineup against Los Angeles.

"Talley will come back in," Ellinger said, "so obviously somebody's going to have to sit somewhere."

Besides Talley's insertion into the lineup, "We'll keep thinking (about) what makes sense," said Ellinger, "(and what's) the best way to deal with Landon."

CUNNINGHAM OK: Due to an apparent typo by MLS, there had been confusion regarding Jeff Cunningham's availability for this Saturday's game.

After picking up a yellow card against Colorado on June 9, his fourth, Cunningham moved within a yellow of earning an automatic suspension because of accumulating five yellow cards. However, he went three games (vs. Houston, New England and Chicago) without any cards, which should've earned him the league's "good-behavior incentive." Earning that incentive takes a player's total down by one yellow.

However, he was left on the league's "yellow peril" list for the Chivas game, and some thought afterward he would be suspended because he picked up a yellow card in the 86th minute.

After clarifying with the league, Cunningham indeed will be available Saturday evening.

"There was a misprint," Ellinger said.

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