Watkins Possesses the Advantage - Yet Calvert-Lewin Might Still Make the World Cup

Only one goal in his opening ten top-flight games this campaign had plenty of doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were behind him.

Yet, a just four weeks on, he is the hottest forward in England following netting 7 goals in 6 consecutive games.

His most recent goal, in a 1-1 draw versus Sunderland, brought his total to eight, seeing him become the highest English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

An Impressive 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 injuries in its final stages.

But, the numbers supporting his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are truly notable.

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

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 runs.

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

The Secret to the Hot Streak?

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

"He has the ideal timing," the manager said. "He's smart and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time."

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

Pundits note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, helping a greater number of players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thereby given the striker additional space.

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

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

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

International Conversation

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

The former Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, scoring four goals, but has not represented the national team since the last European Championship.

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

"He looks as fit as he has in a considerable period," one commented. "If he continues this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place."

Fierce Competition

But, competition for places as backup to Harry Kane is incredibly tough.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a decisive two goals against Chelsea, is right now considered to be ahead in the hierarchy, according to some opinion.

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

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad may depend on how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to include.

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