Watkins Holds the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Still Make the International Squad

A solitary goal in his opening ten top-flight outings this season had numerous wondering if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a only four weeks afterwards, he stands as the hottest striker in England following bagging 7 goals in 6 back-to-back games.

His latest strike, in a stalemate against Sunderland, brought his total to eight, seeing him become the highest English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign.

A Remarkable Revival

The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year period with Everton that was blighted by fitness issues in its closing stages.

However, the statistics behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are truly impressive.

His six-game scoring sequence sees him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League fixtures.

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane never managed a run of this length - his top is two separate five-match streaks.

And the sole English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who embarked on an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019.

The Secret to the Scoring Form?

What is behind Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in this period? A recent opponent's manager summed it up aptly.

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager stated. "He's clever and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time."

That natural ability and timing inside the box was what made him a popular figure at his former team.

Pundits note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing a greater number of players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thus given the striker a little more space.

"He is a classic centre-forward," noted a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely 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 persevered and kept going... I've believed in myself and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has shown no surprise at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

The England Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has naturally fueled talks of an England recall.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, with four goals, but has not played for the Three Lions since the previous European Championship.

Pundits think the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this standard.

"He looks as fit as he has in a while," one commented. "If he sustains this level of form... then he's going to be in a conversation for a World Cup place."

Stiff Rivalry

But, the battle for places as backup to Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive two goals versus Chelsea, is right now considered to be leading in the pecking order, according to some assessment.

"If you look at the two players, Watkins possesses the advantage in terms of using his speed to test teams," it was noted.

"He also holds the edge when it comes to making a decisive impact at a major finals."

Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad could hinge on how many specialist strikers the England manager decides to take.

"I think it might come down to whether he takes two or three centre-forwards," an expert concluded. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."