🔗 Share this article Watkins Possesses the Edge - However Calvert-Lewin May Yet Secure the International Squad A solitary goal in his first ten Premier League appearances this season had many wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were behind him. But, a only four weeks afterwards, he stands as the hottest attacker in England following bagging 7 goals in six consecutive games. His latest strike, in a tie against Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, making him the leading English scorer in the Premier League this campaign. A Remarkable Resurgence The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was blighted by injuries in its latter stages. Yet, the numbers behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are extremely notable. His six-game scoring run puts him in elite company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League outings. To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run this long - his best stands at two individual five-match streaks. And the only English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who embarked on an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Purple Patch? Why has Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager summed it up aptly. "He has the perfect timing," the manager said. "He's clever and a excellent striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time." That instinct and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a popular figure at his former team. Analysts highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, helping more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has created the striker some extra space. "He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little touch beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A test of character and I've persisted and kept going... I've backed myself and now I'm reaping the rewards." His manager has shown little astonishment at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the competition. International Dilemma Calvert-Lewin's return to form has inevitably sparked discussions of an England call-up. The former Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, scoring four goals, but has not represented the country since the previous European Championship. Pundits feel the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this standard. "He looks as fit as he has in a considerable period," one commented. "If he continues this level of form... then he's going to be in a conversation for a World Cup place." Intense Rivalry But, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is fierce. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is currently regarded as leading in the selection race, according to some opinion. "If you compare the two players, Watkins has the advantage in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was stated. "He also has the advantage when it comes to making a decisive impact at a big competition." Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad may depend on how many natural strikers the head coach decides to select. "I think it might depend on whether the manager takes two or three centre-forwards," an expert concluded. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."
A solitary goal in his first ten Premier League appearances this season had many wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were behind him. But, a only four weeks afterwards, he stands as the hottest attacker in England following bagging 7 goals in six consecutive games. His latest strike, in a tie against Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, making him the leading English scorer in the Premier League this campaign. A Remarkable Resurgence The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was blighted by injuries in its latter stages. Yet, the numbers behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are extremely notable. His six-game scoring run puts him in elite company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League outings. To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run this long - his best stands at two individual five-match streaks. And the only English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who embarked on an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Purple Patch? Why has Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager summed it up aptly. "He has the perfect timing," the manager said. "He's clever and a excellent striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time." That instinct and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a popular figure at his former team. Analysts highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, helping more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has created the striker some extra space. "He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little touch beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A test of character and I've persisted and kept going... I've backed myself and now I'm reaping the rewards." His manager has shown little astonishment at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the competition. International Dilemma Calvert-Lewin's return to form has inevitably sparked discussions of an England call-up. The former Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, scoring four goals, but has not represented the country since the previous European Championship. Pundits feel the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this standard. "He looks as fit as he has in a considerable period," one commented. "If he continues this level of form... then he's going to be in a conversation for a World Cup place." Intense Rivalry But, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is fierce. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is currently regarded as leading in the selection race, according to some opinion. "If you compare the two players, Watkins has the advantage in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was stated. "He also has the advantage when it comes to making a decisive impact at a big competition." Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad may depend on how many natural strikers the head coach decides to select. "I think it might depend on whether the manager takes two or three centre-forwards," an expert concluded. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."