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

Only one goal in his initial ten Premier League games this season had plenty of questioning if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were behind him.

Yet, a just four weeks afterwards, he stands as the hottest attacker in England following netting seven goals in six straight games.

His newest strike, in a 1-1 draw versus Sunderland, brought his tally to eight, establishing him as the highest English scorer in the Premier League this campaign.

A Remarkable Return to Form

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

But, the data behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 formation are extremely notable.

His six-game scoring run sees him in prestigious company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more consecutive Premier League fixtures.

To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his best is two individual five-match streaks.

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

What's Behind the Purple Patch?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in recent weeks? A recent opponent's manager summed it up perfectly.

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager said. "He's clever and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."

That instinct and positional sense inside the box was what turned him into a popular figure at his former team.

Experts note the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, allowing more players to get into the box and occupy defenders, thus created the striker some extra space.

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

"I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A challenge of mentality and I've persevered and kept going... I've had faith and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has expressed no surprise at this rich vein of form, reiterating that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

World Cup Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has inevitably sparked talks of an England return.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, netting four goals, but has not featured for the Three Lions since the most recent European Championship.

Pundits think the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this level.

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

Intense Competition

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

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace versus Chelsea, is presently regarded as in front in the selection race, according to some opinion.

"If you look at the two players, Watkins holds the edge in terms of using his pace to stretch teams," it was said.

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

Ultimately, 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 hinge on whether the manager includes two or three centre-forwards," an analyst concluded. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."