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

A solitary goal in his initial ten Premier League games this campaign had plenty of wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were in the past.

Yet, a mere four weeks on, he stands as the most talked-about attacker in England after netting seven goals in 6 straight games.

His latest strike, in a 1-1 draw versus Sunderland, took his total to eight, seeing him become the highest English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign.

An Impressive Return to Form

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

Yet, the statistics behind his revival in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 system are extremely remarkable.

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

To provide context, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his top stands at two individual five-match streaks.

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

The Reason for the Purple Patch?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A latest opponent's manager summed it up perfectly.

"He has the perfect timing," the manager remarked. "He's clever and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."

That natural ability and positional sense inside the penalty area was what made him a beloved player at his former team.

Experts highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing more players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thereby provided the striker additional space.

"He is a traditional centre-forward," observed 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 challenge of character and I've hung in there and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result."

His manager has voiced little astonishment at this purple patch, reiterating that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the division.

The England Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has inevitably ignited discussions of an England recall.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, scoring four goals, but has not represented the national team since the most recent European Championship.

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

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

Fierce Competition

Yet, competition for places as backup to Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is presently seen as leading in the pecking order, according to some assessment.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins possesses the advantage in terms of using his speed to stretch teams," it was said.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad could hinge on how many natural strikers the national team coach decides to select.

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