Watkins Holds the Advantage - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Still Secure the International Squad

Just one goal in his initial ten Premier League appearances this season had many questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a just four weeks on, he is the most talked-about forward in England following bagging seven goals in 6 consecutive games.

His latest strike, in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, took his total to eight, seeing him become the top English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Remarkable Resurgence

The 28-year-old signed for 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.

However, the numbers underpinning his revival in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 system are genuinely impressive.

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

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his longest is two separate five-match streaks.

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

The Reason for the Hot Streak?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in this period? A recent opponent's manager described it succinctly.

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

That nose for goal and timing inside the penalty area was what made him a fan favourite at his former team.

Experts note the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, helping more players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thus provided the striker a little more space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," noted a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little flick beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal."

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A test of character and I've hung in there and kept going... I've backed myself and this is the result."

His manager has voiced little astonishment at this hot streak, reiterating that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

International Question

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has inevitably fueled conversations of an England recall.

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

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

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

Fierce Competition

However, competition for places behind Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is currently considered to be ahead in the pecking order, according to some opinion.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins has the advantage in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was noted.

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

In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad might come down to how many natural strikers the national team coach decides to include.

"I think it might depend on whether he selects two or three centre-forwards," an pundit summarized. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."