🔗 Share this article Watkins Possesses the Advantage - But Calvert-Lewin May Yet Make the World Cup Only one goal in his initial ten Premier League appearances this campaign had numerous wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were over. However, a just four weeks later, he has become the hottest striker in England following netting 7 goals in 6 consecutive games. His most recent goal, in a tie against Sunderland, brought his total to eight, establishing him as the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season. A Remarkable Return to Form The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year period with Everton that was marred by injuries in its closing stages. However, the numbers supporting his revival in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 system are genuinely remarkable. His six-game scoring run puts him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more successive Premier League matches. To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run this long - his longest is two distinct five-match streaks. And the only English striker to surpass Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Purple Patch? What is behind Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in recent weeks? A recent opponent's manager explained it succinctly. "He has the ideal timing," the manager stated. "He's intelligent and a genuinely top-class 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 popular figure at his former team. Pundits highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus created the striker some extra space. "He is a traditional centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little touch beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've been through 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 little astonishment at this rich vein of form, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the league. World Cup Question Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has naturally ignited talks of an England return. The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, with four goals, but has not represented the country since the most recent European Championship. Observers believe the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this standard. "He looks as in shape as he has in a long time," one commented. "If he sustains this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place." Intense Competition Yet, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is incredibly tough. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive brace against Chelsea, is currently seen as leading in the pecking order, according to some assessment. "If you look at the two players, Watkins holds the advantage in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was stated. "He also has the advantage when it comes to making a decisive impact at a major tournament." Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad could hinge on how many out-and-out strikers the England manager decides to take. "I think it might come down to 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 initial ten Premier League appearances this campaign had numerous wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were over. However, a just four weeks later, he has become the hottest striker in England following netting 7 goals in 6 consecutive games. His most recent goal, in a tie against Sunderland, brought his total to eight, establishing him as the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season. A Remarkable Return to Form The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year period with Everton that was marred by injuries in its closing stages. However, the numbers supporting his revival in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 system are genuinely remarkable. His six-game scoring run puts him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more successive Premier League matches. To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run this long - his longest is two distinct five-match streaks. And the only English striker to surpass Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019. The Secret to the Purple Patch? What is behind Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in recent weeks? A recent opponent's manager explained it succinctly. "He has the ideal timing," the manager stated. "He's intelligent and a genuinely top-class 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 popular figure at his former team. Pundits highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus created the striker some extra space. "He is a traditional centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little touch beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal." "I've been through 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 little astonishment at this rich vein of form, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the league. World Cup Question Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has naturally ignited talks of an England return. The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, with four goals, but has not represented the country since the most recent European Championship. Observers believe the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this standard. "He looks as in shape as he has in a long time," one commented. "If he sustains this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place." Intense Competition Yet, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is incredibly tough. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive brace against Chelsea, is currently seen as leading in the pecking order, according to some assessment. "If you look at the two players, Watkins holds the advantage in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was stated. "He also has the advantage when it comes to making a decisive impact at a major tournament." Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad could hinge on how many out-and-out strikers the England manager decides to take. "I think it might come down to whether he includes two or three centre-forwards," an analyst added. "If it is three, he definitely has a chance."