Watkins Holds the Advantage - Yet Calvert-Lewin Could Yet Make the World Cup

A solitary goal in his first ten top-flight appearances this season had plenty of questioning if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a mere four weeks afterwards, he has become the most talked-about attacker in England following scoring seven goals in six straight games.

His latest goal, in a 1-1 draw versus Sunderland, took his tally to eight, making him the top English goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season.

An Impressive Revival

The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year spell with Everton that was hampered by injuries in its closing stages.

Yet, the numbers underpinning his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 system are extremely notable.

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

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his top stands at two individual five-match streaks.

And the only English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in the modern era is Jamie Vardy, who embarked on an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019.

The Secret to the Purple Patch?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in the past month? A previous opponent's manager summed it up perfectly.

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

That instinct and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a beloved player at his former team.

Pundits note the system adjustment to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, helping a greater number of players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thus given the striker a little more space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely little flick beyond the keeper, a classic centre-forward's goal."

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of downs. A challenge of mentality and I've hung in there and kept going... I've believed in myself and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has voiced little astonishment at this hot streak, emphasizing that the player is "a top strikers" in the competition.

The England Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has naturally fueled discussions of an England return.

The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, with four goals, but has not represented the Three Lions since the previous European Championship.

Analysts believe 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 debate for a World Cup place."

Intense Competition

However, the battle for places as backup to Harry Kane is incredibly tough.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a decisive double against Chelsea, is presently seen as ahead in the pecking order, according to some assessment.

"If you look at the two players, Watkins has the advantage in terms of using his pace to get behind teams," it was stated.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many natural strikers the England manager decides to take.

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