Watkins Holds the Edge - However Calvert-Lewin May Yet Secure the World Cup

Only one goal in his opening ten top-flight outings this season had plenty of questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were behind him.

However, a just four weeks on, he has become the most discussed striker in England following bagging 7 goals in six consecutive games.

His newest goal, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, took his total to eight, seeing him become the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign.

A Remarkable Return to Form

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

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

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

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run of this length - his longest is two separate five-match streaks.

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

The Secret to the Hot Streak?

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

"He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's smart and a excellent striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."

That instinct and positional sense inside the box was what made him a beloved player at his former team.

Pundits highlight the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, enabling a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus provided the striker a little more space.

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

"I've endured 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 voiced little astonishment at this purple patch, reiterating that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the division.

The England Conversation

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has naturally sparked discussions of an England call-up.

The ex- Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, with four goals, but has not represented the national team since the last European Championship.

Pundits believe the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this form.

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

Intense Rivalry

Yet, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a decisive double versus Chelsea, is currently regarded as ahead in the hierarchy, according to some opinion.

"If you contrast the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was noted.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad could hinge on 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 pundit concluded. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."