Watkins Possesses the Advantage - However Calvert-Lewin May Still Make the World Cup
A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division appearances this season had many wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were in the past.
Yet, a just four weeks afterwards, he has become the hottest striker in England after netting seven goals in six consecutive games.
His latest strike, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, brought his season's haul to eight, seeing him become the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League this term.
An Impressive Return to Form
The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, after a nine-year period with Everton that was hampered by injuries in its final stages.
However, the numbers underpinning his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are truly notable.
His six-game scoring sequence sees him in exclusive company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more consecutive Premier League matches.
To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane never managed a run of this length - his longest remains two individual five-match runs.
And the only English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring spree for Leicester City in 2019.
The Reason for the Purple Patch?
Why has Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in recent weeks? A previous opponent's manager explained it succinctly.
"He has the perfect timing," the manager stated. "He's clever and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."
That nose for goal and positional sense inside the box was what established him as a fan favourite at his previous club.
Experts note the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, enabling more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus provided the striker a little more space.
"He is a archetypal centre-forward," noted a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little finish beyond the keeper, a typical centre-forward's goal."
"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of lows. A test of character and I've persevered and kept going... I've backed myself and here I am now."
His manager has expressed complete confidence at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the division.
The England Conversation
Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has naturally fueled conversations of an England return.
The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, netting four goals, but has not played for the Three Lions since the last European Championship.
Observers think the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this level.
"He looks as in shape as he has in a while," one remarked. "If he maintains 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 fierce.
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a match-winning two goals versus Chelsea, is right now regarded as ahead in the pecking order, according to some analysis.
"If you look at the two players, Watkins possesses the advantage in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was said.
"He also possesses the edge when it comes to making a significant impact at a major finals."
Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the national team coach decides to include.
"I think it might come down to whether the manager selects two or three centre-forwards," an pundit summarized. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."
