Watkins Holds the Advantage - However Calvert-Lewin Might Still Make the World Cup

Just one goal in his first ten Premier League outings this campaign had plenty of doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were over.

However, a just four weeks on, he is the most discussed attacker in England after scoring 7 goals in 6 back-to-back games.

His newest goal, in a stalemate against Sunderland, elevated his tally to eight, seeing him become the leading English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Stunning Resurgence

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

However, the statistics behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 formation are truly remarkable.

His six-match scoring run places him in prestigious 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 never managed a run of this length - his top stands at two distinct five-match streaks.

And the only English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in the modern era is Jamie Vardy, who embarked on an eight-game scoring streak for Leicester City in 2019.

The Secret to the Scoring Form?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in the past month? A recent opponent's manager summed it up aptly.

"He has the ideal timing," the manager said. "He's intelligent and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."

That instinct and positional sense inside the penalty area was what established him as a beloved player at his former team.

Experts point to the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, allowing more players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thus given the striker additional space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely little finish beyond the keeper, a typical centre-forward's goal."

"I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of lows. A test of character and I've hung in there and kept going... I've had faith and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has expressed no surprise at this purple patch, reiterating that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the division.

World Cup Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has naturally sparked conversations of an England recall.

The former Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, netting four goals, but has not played for the national team since the last European Championship.

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

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

Intense Rivalry

However, the battle for places supporting Harry Kane is incredibly tough.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is currently seen as ahead in the selection race, according to some assessment.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins holds the edge in terms of using his speed to get behind teams," it was said.

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

In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad could hinge on how many out-and-out strikers the England manager decides to take.

"I think it might hinge on whether the manager takes two or three centre-forwards," an analyst concluded. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."