Watkins Maintains the Edge - However Calvert-Lewin May Yet Make the World Cup

A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division appearances this season had many questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were behind him.

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

His latest goal, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, brought his total to eight, seeing him become the leading English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

An Impressive Return to Form

The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year stint with Everton that was blighted by setbacks in its closing stages.

However, the statistics supporting his revival in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 system are extremely notable.

His six-match scoring streak sees him in prestigious 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 did not achieve a run this long - his longest is two individual five-match streaks.

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

What's Behind the Scoring Form?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in this period? A previous opponent's manager explained it aptly.

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

That nose for goal and positional sense inside the box was what established him as a fan favourite at his former team.

Analysts point to the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, helping more players to get into the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker some extra space.

"He is a classic 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 experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of mentality and I've persevered and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result."

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

World Cup Question

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

The former Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, scoring four goals, but has not featured for the country since the most recent European Championship.

Pundits feel the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this standard.

"He looks as in shape 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."

Stiff Competition

Yet, the battle for places behind Harry Kane is incredibly tough.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a decisive two goals versus Chelsea, is presently regarded as leading in the selection race, according to some analysis.

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

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

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

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