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

Just one goal in his opening ten top-flight appearances this season had many questioning if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were behind him.

However, a mere four weeks later, he stands as the most discussed attacker in England after scoring 7 goals in six back-to-back games.

His newest goal, in a tie against Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, seeing him become the leading English scorer in the Premier League this term.

An Impressive Resurgence

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

Yet, the data behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 formation are truly impressive.

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

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

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

What's Behind the Purple Patch?

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

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager stated. "He's clever and a excellent striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time."

That natural ability and timing inside the penalty area was what made him a popular figure at his previous club.

Pundits note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing more players to get into the box and occupy defenders, thereby provided the striker additional space.

"He is a traditional centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely little touch beyond the keeper, a classic centre-forward's goal."

"I've been through a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A test of mentality and I've hung in there and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result."

His manager has shown little astonishment at this purple patch, stating again that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

The England Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has inevitably sparked talks of an England call-up.

The ex- Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, scoring four goals, but has not represented the Three Lions since the most recent European Championship.

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

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

Intense Competition

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

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is right now regarded as ahead in the selection race, according to some assessment.

"If you look at the two players, Watkins holds the advantage in terms of using his speed to test teams," it was stated.

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

Ultimately, 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 the manager takes two or three centre-forwards," an expert summarized. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."