Watkins Maintains the Advantage - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Yet Make the World Cup

A solitary goal in his initial ten Premier League appearances this campaign had many doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a mere four weeks later, he stands as the most discussed attacker in England following scoring seven goals in 6 back-to-back games.

His most recent finish, in a stalemate against Sunderland, took his total to eight, establishing him as the top English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Stunning Revival

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

But, the statistics supporting his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 formation are extremely impressive.

His six-match scoring streak puts him in exclusive 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 never managed a run of this length - his top remains two individual five-match streaks.

And the only English striker to surpass Calvert-Lewin in the modern era is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019.

The Secret to the Hot Streak?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A latest opponent's manager explained it succinctly.

"He has the ideal timing," the manager stated. "He's clever and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment."

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

Analysts highlight the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, enabling more players to get into the box and occupy defenders, which has provided the striker a little more space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely little touch beyond the keeper, a typical 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 persisted and kept going... I've had faith and here I am now."

His manager has expressed no surprise at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the competition.

International Conversation

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has predictably sparked conversations of an England recall.

The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, scoring four goals, but has not featured for the Three Lions since the last European Championship.

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

"He looks as sharp as he has in a long time," one remarked. "If he maintains this level of form... then he's going to be in a debate for a World Cup place."

Stiff Competition

Yet, competition for places supporting Harry Kane is incredibly tough.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a match-winning two goals against Chelsea, is currently considered to be leading in the hierarchy, according to some assessment.

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

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

In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to 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 pundit concluded. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."