Watkins Maintains the Advantage - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Still Secure the International Squad

Only one goal in his opening ten Premier League games this campaign had many doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were behind him.

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

His latest goal, in a tie against Sunderland, took his tally to eight, making him the top English scorer in the Premier League this term.

An Impressive Return to Form

The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year period with Everton that was marred by fitness issues in its final stages.

But, the data behind his revival in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 system are genuinely notable.

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

To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run of this length - his best is two separate five-match runs.

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

The Reason for the Scoring Form?

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

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

That natural ability and positional sense inside the box was what made him a beloved player at his previous club.

Analysts highlight the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker some extra space.

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

"I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of resolve and I've persisted and kept going... I've had faith and here I am now."

His manager has shown complete confidence at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

The England Question

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has inevitably fueled discussions of an England recall.

The former Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, scoring four goals, but has not featured for the national team since the previous European Championship.

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

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

Stiff Rivalry

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

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive brace versus Chelsea, is right now regarded as ahead in the hierarchy, according to some assessment.

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

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

Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to take.

"I think it might depend on whether the manager includes two or three centre-forwards," an pundit summarized. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."