Watkins Possesses the Advantage - But Calvert-Lewin May Yet Make the World Cup

A solitary goal in his first ten Premier League outings this season had numerous wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were behind him.

But, a mere four weeks later, he has become the most discussed attacker in England following netting 7 goals in six straight games.

His most recent finish, in a tie against Sunderland, brought his season's haul to eight, making him the top English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Stunning Resurgence

The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year period with Everton that was blighted by injuries in its final stages.

But, the statistics supporting his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are extremely remarkable.

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

To provide context, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run this long - his top is two individual five-match runs.

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

What's Behind the Purple Patch?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A previous opponent's manager described it perfectly.

"He has the impeccable 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 penalty area was what made him a popular figure at his previous club.

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

"He is a classic centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a neat little finish beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal."

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of downs. A test of resolve and I've persevered and kept going... I've backed myself and this is the result."

His manager has shown no surprise at this purple patch, stating again that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the league.

The England Question

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has inevitably fueled talks of an England return.

The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, with four goals, but has not featured for the country since the most recent European Championship.

Observers feel the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this form.

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

Fierce Rivalry

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

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is right now regarded as ahead in the hierarchy, according to some analysis.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins possesses the advantage in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was noted.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad could hinge on how many natural strikers the national team coach decides to include.

"I think it might hinge on whether he takes two or three centre-forwards," an expert added. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."