đŸ”— Share this article Watkins Holds the Edge - But Calvert-Lewin Could Yet Make the International Squad A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division appearances this campaign had plenty of questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were over. But, a just four weeks later, he is the most talked-about striker in England following bagging 7 goals in six back-to-back games. His most recent strike, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, seeing him become the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign. An Impressive Revival The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was hampered by setbacks in its closing stages. But, the data supporting his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are truly remarkable. His six-game scoring sequence places him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more consecutive Premier League fixtures. To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run lasting this many games - his longest stands at two separate five-match runs. And the only English striker to better Calvert-Lewin in recent memory is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Hot Streak? What is behind Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager described it perfectly. "He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment." That nose for goal and timing inside the penalty area was what established him as a popular figure at his former team. Pundits note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, helping more players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thereby created the striker some extra space. "He is a traditional centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little touch beyond the keeper, a typical centre-forward's goal." "I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A challenge of mentality and I've persisted and kept going... I've backed myself and now I'm reaping the rewards." His manager has voiced complete confidence at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the competition. The England Question Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has predictably fueled talks of an England call-up. The former Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, netting four goals, but has not featured for the national team since the previous European Championship. Observers 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 maintains this level of form... then he's going to be in a debate for a World Cup place." Stiff Competition However, competition for places supporting Harry Kane is incredibly tough. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a decisive two goals against Chelsea, is currently considered to be ahead in the hierarchy, according to some analysis. "If you look at the two players, Watkins has the advantage in terms of using his speed to stretch teams," it was noted. "He also holds the edge when it comes to making a significant impact at a major finals." Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad could hinge on how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to select. "I think it might depend on whether the manager includes two or three centre-forwards," an expert summarized. "If it is three, he definitely has a chance."
A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division appearances this campaign had plenty of questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were over. But, a just four weeks later, he is the most talked-about striker in England following bagging 7 goals in six back-to-back games. His most recent strike, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, seeing him become the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign. An Impressive Revival The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was hampered by setbacks in its closing stages. But, the data supporting his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are truly remarkable. His six-game scoring sequence places him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more consecutive Premier League fixtures. To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run lasting this many games - his longest stands at two separate five-match runs. And the only English striker to better Calvert-Lewin in recent memory is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Hot Streak? What is behind Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager described it perfectly. "He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment." That nose for goal and timing inside the penalty area was what established him as a popular figure at his former team. Pundits note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, helping more players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thereby created the striker some extra space. "He is a traditional centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little touch beyond the keeper, a typical centre-forward's goal." "I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A challenge of mentality and I've persisted and kept going... I've backed myself and now I'm reaping the rewards." His manager has voiced complete confidence at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the competition. The England Question Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has predictably fueled talks of an England call-up. The former Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, netting four goals, but has not featured for the national team since the previous European Championship. Observers 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 maintains this level of form... then he's going to be in a debate for a World Cup place." Stiff Competition However, competition for places supporting Harry Kane is incredibly tough. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a decisive two goals against Chelsea, is currently considered to be ahead in the hierarchy, according to some analysis. "If you look at the two players, Watkins has the advantage in terms of using his speed to stretch teams," it was noted. "He also holds the edge when it comes to making a significant impact at a major finals." Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad could hinge on how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to select. "I think it might depend on whether the manager includes two or three centre-forwards," an expert summarized. "If it is three, he definitely has a chance."