Watkins Possesses the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Still Secure the World Cup

Only one goal in his initial ten Premier League outings this season had plenty of questioning whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.

Yet, a just four weeks on, he is the hottest forward in England following scoring seven goals in 6 consecutive games.

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

An Impressive Return to Form

The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year stint with Everton that was marred by setbacks in its latter stages.

But, the data underpinning his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are genuinely notable.

His six-game scoring sequence places him in prestigious company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League matches.

To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run this long - his top remains two separate five-match streaks.

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

The Reason for the Hot Streak?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in the past month? A previous opponent's manager described it succinctly.

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

That instinct and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a fan favourite at his previous club.

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

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

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of lows. A challenge of character and I've hung in there and kept going... I've believed in myself and here I am now."

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

World Cup Conversation

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

The former Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, scoring four goals, but has not represented the Three Lions since the last European Championship.

Observers feel the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can maintain this level.

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

Intense Rivalry

However, competition for places behind Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is presently considered to be leading in the selection race, according to some opinion.

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

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

In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad may depend on how many specialist strikers the England manager decides to include.

"I think it might come down to whether the manager includes two or three centre-forwards," an expert concluded. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."