Watkins Possesses the Advantage - But Calvert-Lewin Might Still Make the International Squad

Just one goal in his opening ten Premier League outings this campaign had plenty of wondering whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were behind him.

Yet, a only four weeks on, he is the most discussed forward in England following scoring seven goals in six straight games.

His newest strike, in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, brought his tally to eight, making him the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Stunning Resurgence

The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year spell with Everton that was blighted by setbacks in its latter stages.

Yet, the data supporting his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are extremely impressive.

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

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

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

The Reason for the Scoring Form?

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

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

That nose for goal and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a fan favourite at his former team.

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

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

"I've experienced a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A test of mentality and I've persisted and kept going... I've had faith and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has voiced no surprise at this rich vein of form, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the division.

World Cup Conversation

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has predictably ignited talks of an England recall.

The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England appearances, with four goals, but has not featured 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 keep up this standard.

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

Fierce Rivalry

But, competition for places as backup to Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a decisive double versus Chelsea, is presently seen as leading in the hierarchy, according to some opinion.

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

"He also holds the advantage when it comes to making a meaningful impact at a big competition."

Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to include.

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