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

A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division appearances this season had plenty of wondering if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

But, a mere four weeks later, he has become the hottest attacker in England after bagging seven goals in 6 consecutive games.

His newest goal, in a tie versus Sunderland, elevated his total to eight, making him the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this term.

A Remarkable Revival

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

However, the statistics behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 system are extremely notable.

His six-match scoring sequence places him in prestigious company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League outings.

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run this long - his best remains two individual five-match streaks.

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

The Secret to the Scoring Form?

What is behind Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A latest opponent's manager explained it perfectly.

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager stated. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment."

That natural ability and timing inside the penalty area was what established him as a fan favourite at his previous club.

Experts note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, enabling a greater number of players to get into the box and occupy defenders, which has provided the striker some extra space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed 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 challenge of character and I've hung in there and kept going... I've backed myself and here I am now."

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

The England Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has predictably fueled discussions of an England call-up.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England caps, with four goals, but has not played for the country since the previous European Championship.

Observers think the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this form.

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

Stiff Competition

But, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive two goals against Chelsea, is presently seen as ahead in the pecking order, according to some analysis.

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

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

In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to include.

"I think it might come down to whether he selects two or three centre-forwards," an analyst added. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."