Watkins Possesses the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin Might Still Make the International Squad

A solitary goal in his initial ten Premier League appearances this season had many wondering if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were behind him.

But, a mere four weeks afterwards, he has become the most talked-about forward in England following scoring seven goals in six consecutive games.

His newest finish, in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, elevated his tally to eight, seeing him become the highest English scorer in the Premier League this term.

A Remarkable Revival

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

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

His six-match scoring run puts him in prestigious company as just 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 is two individual five-match runs.

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

The Secret to the Scoring Form?

What is behind Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in recent weeks? A previous opponent's manager summed it up aptly.

"He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."

That instinct and positional sense inside the box was what turned him into a fan favourite at his former team.

Analysts point to the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, allowing more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thereby given the striker additional 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 experienced 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 shown little astonishment at this rich vein of form, emphasizing that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the league.

The England Conversation

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has inevitably fueled discussions of an England call-up.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England caps, scoring four goals, but has not featured for the country since the most recent European Championship.

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

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

Stiff Competition

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

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is presently regarded as leading in the hierarchy, according to some analysis.

"If you contrast the two players, Watkins possesses the advantage in terms of using his speed to get behind teams," it was stated.

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

Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin will be 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 expert concluded. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."