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

A solitary goal in his opening ten top-flight outings this season had plenty of wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were over.

But, a just four weeks on, he has become the most talked-about attacker in England after netting seven goals in six consecutive games.

His newest finish, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, brought his season's haul to eight, seeing him become the leading English scorer in the Premier League this campaign.

A Stunning Resurgence

The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, after a nine-year period with Everton that was blighted by injuries in its latter stages.

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

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

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane never managed a run of this length - his best remains two individual five-match streaks.

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

What's Behind the Hot Streak?

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

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time."

That instinct and positional sense inside the penalty area was what made him a fan favourite at his former team.

Pundits highlight the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, helping more players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker additional space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," noted a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely 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 test of mentality and I've persevered and kept going... I've backed myself and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has voiced complete confidence at this hot streak, stating again that the player is "a top strikers" in the competition.

International Question

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has naturally fueled talks of an England recall.

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

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

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

Fierce Competition

Yet, competition for places behind Harry Kane is incredibly tough.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is presently considered to be ahead in the pecking order, according to some analysis.

"If you look at the two players, Watkins possesses the edge in terms of using his speed to test teams," it was said.

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the England manager decides to take.

"I think it might hinge on whether he selects two or three centre-forwards," an pundit added. "If it is three, he definitely has a chance."