Watkins Possesses the Edge - But Calvert-Lewin May Still Secure the World Cup

A solitary goal in his initial ten top-flight outings this campaign had numerous questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were over.

Yet, a mere four weeks afterwards, he stands as the most discussed attacker in England after netting 7 goals in six consecutive games.

His latest finish, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, brought his season's haul to eight, establishing him as the top English scorer in the Premier League this term.

A Stunning Resurgence

The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year spell with Everton that was blighted by setbacks in its latter stages.

But, the data behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are genuinely notable.

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

To provide context, even England captain Harry Kane never managed a run this long - his longest stands at two separate five-match streaks.

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

The Reason for the Scoring Form?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A previous opponent's manager described it succinctly.

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager remarked. "He's clever and a excellent striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment."

That nose for goal and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what made him a popular figure at his previous club.

Experts highlight the system adjustment to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, allowing more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus given the striker a little more space.

"He is a classic centre-forward," noted a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely little finish beyond the keeper, a typical centre-forward's goal."

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A challenge of resolve and I've hung in there and kept going... I've backed myself and here I am now."

His manager has voiced no surprise at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

The England Conversation

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has predictably sparked discussions of an England recall.

The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, with four goals, but has not featured for the national team since the previous European Championship.

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

"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 debate for a World Cup place."

Intense Rivalry

Yet, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a decisive brace against Chelsea, is right now regarded as ahead in the hierarchy, according to some analysis.

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

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

Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad might come down to how many out-and-out strikers the national team coach decides to include.

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