Watkins Maintains the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin Might Yet Make the World Cup

A solitary goal in his opening ten top-flight games this campaign had many questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a only four weeks on, he has become the most talked-about attacker in England following bagging 7 goals in six straight games.

His newest finish, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, elevated his season's haul to eight, making him the top English goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season.

An Impressive Return to Form

The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was blighted by injuries in its final stages.

Yet, the numbers behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are truly notable.

His six-match scoring run puts him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more successive Premier League fixtures.

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run this long - his longest stands at 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 streak for Leicester City in 2019.

The Reason for the Scoring Form?

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

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

That nose for goal and timing inside the box was what turned him into a popular figure at his previous club.

Experts point to the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker some extra space.

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

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A test of character and I've persevered and kept going... I've believed in myself and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has shown little astonishment at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

World Cup Question

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

The former Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, with four goals, but has not featured for the Three Lions since the last European Championship.

Pundits believe the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can maintain this standard.

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

Intense Competition

Yet, competition for places as backup to Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a match-winning two goals against Chelsea, is right now seen as leading in the pecking order, according to some analysis.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was stated.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad may depend on how many out-and-out strikers the England manager decides to include.

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