đŸ”— Share this article Watkins Possesses the Advantage - But Calvert-Lewin Could Yet Make the International Squad A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division outings this campaign had many wondering if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were over. However, a just four weeks on, he has become the most talked-about attacker in England after bagging seven goals in 6 consecutive games. His latest strike, in a tie against Sunderland, brought his total to eight, seeing him become the highest English scorer in the Premier League this campaign. A Remarkable Resurgence The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was hampered by fitness issues in its latter stages. Yet, the numbers underpinning his revival in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are extremely impressive. His six-match scoring sequence puts him in exclusive company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League matches. To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run of this length - his longest is two individual five-match runs. And the only English striker to surpass Calvert-Lewin in the modern era is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Purple Patch? What has made Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in recent weeks? A latest opponent's manager summed it up aptly. "He has the impeccable timing," the manager stated. "He's smart and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment." That natural ability and timing inside the box was what turned him into a fan favourite at his former team. Pundits note the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, enabling more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has provided the striker some extra space. "He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little finish beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of resolve and I've persevered and kept going... I've had faith and here I am now." His manager has voiced little astonishment at this rich vein of form, reiterating that the player is "a top strikers" in the league. The England Question Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has naturally fueled talks of an England recall. The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, netting four goals, but has not featured for the country since the most recent European Championship. Observers believe the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can maintain this form. "He looks as in shape as he has in a considerable period," one remarked. "If he continues this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place." Stiff Rivalry Yet, competition for places behind Harry Kane is intense. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is currently seen as in front in the hierarchy, according to some assessment. "If you compare the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was said. "He also possesses the edge when it comes to making a meaningful impact at a big competition." Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the England manager decides to include. "I think it might hinge on whether the manager selects two or three centre-forwards," an expert summarized. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."
A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division outings this campaign had many wondering if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were over. However, a just four weeks on, he has become the most talked-about attacker in England after bagging seven goals in 6 consecutive games. His latest strike, in a tie against Sunderland, brought his total to eight, seeing him become the highest English scorer in the Premier League this campaign. A Remarkable Resurgence The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was hampered by fitness issues in its latter stages. Yet, the numbers underpinning his revival in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are extremely impressive. His six-match scoring sequence puts him in exclusive company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League matches. To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run of this length - his longest is two individual five-match runs. And the only English striker to surpass Calvert-Lewin in the modern era is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Purple Patch? What has made Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in recent weeks? A latest opponent's manager summed it up aptly. "He has the impeccable timing," the manager stated. "He's smart and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment." That natural ability and timing inside the box was what turned him into a fan favourite at his former team. Pundits note the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, enabling more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has provided the striker some extra space. "He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little finish beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of resolve and I've persevered and kept going... I've had faith and here I am now." His manager has voiced little astonishment at this rich vein of form, reiterating that the player is "a top strikers" in the league. The England Question Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has naturally fueled talks of an England recall. The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, netting four goals, but has not featured for the country since the most recent European Championship. Observers believe the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can maintain this form. "He looks as in shape as he has in a considerable period," one remarked. "If he continues this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place." Stiff Rivalry Yet, competition for places behind Harry Kane is intense. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is currently seen as in front in the hierarchy, according to some assessment. "If you compare the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was said. "He also possesses the edge when it comes to making a meaningful impact at a big competition." Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the England manager decides to include. "I think it might hinge on whether the manager selects two or three centre-forwards," an expert summarized. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."