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

A solitary goal in his first ten Premier League outings this campaign had plenty of wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a only four weeks afterwards, he stands as the most discussed attacker in England after scoring seven goals in 6 straight games.

His latest finish, in a 1-1 draw versus Sunderland, brought his tally to eight, making him the top English scorer in the Premier League this term.

A Remarkable Return to Form

The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year period with Everton that was marred by fitness issues in its final stages.

But, the statistics supporting his comeback in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 system are truly notable.

His six-game scoring streak puts him in prestigious company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League matches.

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run lasting this many games - his best remains two distinct five-match runs.

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

What's Behind the Scoring Form?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager summed it up perfectly.

"He has the ideal timing," the manager said. "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 established him as a beloved player at his previous club.

Experts highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, allowing a greater number of players to enter the box and occupy defenders, which has provided the striker additional space.

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

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

His manager has voiced complete confidence at this purple patch, stating again that the player is "a top strikers" in the competition.

The England Question

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has inevitably fueled talks of an England call-up.

The ex- Sheffield United player has 11 England caps, netting four goals, but has not played for the Three Lions since the most recent European Championship.

Analysts feel the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this standard.

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

Intense Rivalry

But, the battle for places behind Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning double against Chelsea, is presently regarded as leading in the pecking order, according to some analysis.

"If you contrast the two players, Watkins possesses the edge in terms of using his pace to get behind teams," it was noted.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many out-and-out strikers the national team coach decides to select.

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