🔗 Share this article Watkins Maintains the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin Might Yet Make the World Cup Only one goal in his first ten Premier League outings this season had plenty of questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were behind him. But, a just four weeks on, he is the hottest forward in England following scoring 7 goals in six back-to-back games. His latest goal, in a stalemate against Sunderland, brought his tally to eight, establishing him as the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign. An Impressive Revival The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, after a nine-year spell with Everton that was hampered by setbacks in its latter stages. However, the numbers behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 formation are truly notable. His six-match scoring streak places him in exclusive company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more successive Premier League fixtures. To provide context, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his best stands at two separate five-match runs. And the sole English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent memory is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Hot Streak? What is behind Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in this period? A recent opponent's manager described it aptly. "He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed." That nose for goal and timing inside the box was what turned him into a fan favourite at his former team. Analysts note the system adjustment to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, enabling more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker some extra space. "He is a classic centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little finish beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've endured a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of mentality and I've hung in there and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result." His manager has voiced complete confidence at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition. International Conversation Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has inevitably fueled discussions of an England return. The former Sheffield United player has 11 England caps, with four goals, but has not featured for the Three Lions since the previous European Championship. Analysts think the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this form. "He looks as in shape as he has in a long time," one said. "If he sustains this level of form... then he's going to be in a conversation for a World Cup place." Fierce Competition However, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is intense. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive brace against Chelsea, is presently seen as ahead in the pecking order, according to some opinion. "If you contrast the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was said. "He also possesses the advantage when it comes to making a decisive impact at a major tournament." In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad might come down to how many out-and-out strikers the head coach decides to take. "I think it might hinge on whether he includes two or three centre-forwards," an analyst added. "If it is three, he definitely has a chance."
Only one goal in his first ten Premier League outings this season had plenty of questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were behind him. But, a just four weeks on, he is the hottest forward in England following scoring 7 goals in six back-to-back games. His latest goal, in a stalemate against Sunderland, brought his tally to eight, establishing him as the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign. An Impressive Revival The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, after a nine-year spell with Everton that was hampered by setbacks in its latter stages. However, the numbers behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 formation are truly notable. His six-match scoring streak places him in exclusive company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more successive Premier League fixtures. To provide context, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his best stands at two separate five-match runs. And the sole English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent memory is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Hot Streak? What is behind Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in this period? A recent opponent's manager described it aptly. "He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed." That nose for goal and timing inside the box was what turned him into a fan favourite at his former team. Analysts note the system adjustment to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, enabling more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker some extra space. "He is a classic centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little finish beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've endured a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of mentality and I've hung in there and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result." His manager has voiced complete confidence at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition. International Conversation Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has inevitably fueled discussions of an England return. The former Sheffield United player has 11 England caps, with four goals, but has not featured for the Three Lions since the previous European Championship. Analysts think the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this form. "He looks as in shape as he has in a long time," one said. "If he sustains this level of form... then he's going to be in a conversation for a World Cup place." Fierce Competition However, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is intense. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive brace against Chelsea, is presently seen as ahead in the pecking order, according to some opinion. "If you contrast the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was said. "He also possesses the advantage when it comes to making a decisive impact at a major tournament." In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad might come down to how many out-and-out strikers the head coach decides to take. "I think it might hinge on whether he includes two or three centre-forwards," an analyst added. "If it is three, he definitely has a chance."