Watkins Maintains the Edge - But Calvert-Lewin May Still Make the World Cup

A solitary goal in his first ten top-flight outings this season had plenty of doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were over.

However, a just four weeks afterwards, he stands as the most talked-about forward in England following scoring seven goals in 6 straight games.

His most recent finish, in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, took his total to eight, establishing him as the highest English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Remarkable Return to Form

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

But, the numbers underpinning his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are extremely remarkable.

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

To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run this long - his top remains two distinct five-match streaks.

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

The Secret to the Purple Patch?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager explained it succinctly.

"He has the ideal timing," the manager said. "He's clever and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment."

That natural ability and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what turned him into a popular figure at his previous club.

Analysts point to the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, allowing more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker additional space.

"He is a classic centre-forward," observed 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 ups and lots of downs. A challenge of character and I've persevered and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result."

His manager has expressed no surprise at this hot streak, reiterating that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the division.

The England Question

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

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, netting four goals, but has not played for the country since the last European Championship.

Analysts feel the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this level.

"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 debate for a World Cup place."

Stiff Rivalry

However, competition for places as backup to Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning two goals against Chelsea, is presently regarded as ahead in the hierarchy, according to some opinion.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins holds the edge in terms of using his speed to stretch teams," it was noted.

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

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 depend on whether the manager selects two or three centre-forwards," an analyst added. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."