Donovan to return to Galaxy for MLS season

01 Dec 2012, Carson, California, USA --- LA Galaxy Captain Landon Donovan (10) during the 2012 MLS Cup Championship Match between LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo. LA Galaxy won the match with a score of 3-1 over Houston Dynamo in The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, USA December 1, 2012. ---(Copyright Ira L. Black/Corbis / APImages)

CARSON, Calif. (AP) Landon Donovan will return to the Los Angeles Galaxy for the upcoming MLS season, but exactly when he resumes playing hasn't been decided yet.

Donovan wasn't at the team's first practice on Monday, when coach Bruce Arena said the Galaxy captain has been given more time off.

Arena says Donovan is "definitely playing this year."

Donovan turns 31 on March 4, a day after the Galaxy's season opener against the Chicago Fire.

The midfielder had the tiebreaking goal on a penalty kick that gave the Galaxy a 3-1 victory over Houston for their second straight MLS Cup title in November. Afterward, he said he had been dealing with physical and mental fatigue after playing 49 games in 48 weeks.

Donovan told Arena recently he needed more time off.

Updated January 21, 2013