Watkins Maintains the Edge - However Calvert-Lewin Could Yet Make the World Cup

Just one goal in his opening ten Premier League appearances this season had plenty of questioning if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were over.

However, a only four weeks later, he is the hottest attacker in England following bagging seven goals in 6 back-to-back games.

His newest finish, in a tie versus Sunderland, brought his total to eight, making him the leading English scorer in the Premier League this term.

An Impressive Return to Form

The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year spell with Everton that was hampered by setbacks in its latter stages.

Yet, the numbers behind his comeback in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 formation are extremely impressive.

His six-game scoring run places him in exclusive company as only 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 lasting this many games - his best stands at two individual five-match streaks.

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

The Secret to the Hot Streak?

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

"He has the perfect timing," the manager stated. "He's smart and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time."

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

Analysts point to the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thereby created the striker additional space.

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

"I've been through a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A test of resolve and I've persisted and kept going... I've backed myself and this is the result."

His manager has expressed little astonishment at this hot streak, reiterating that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the league.

The England Question

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has predictably sparked conversations of an England call-up.

The ex- Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, netting four goals, but has not featured for the national team since the most recent European Championship.

Analysts think the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this standard.

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

Fierce Competition

But, competition for places behind Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a decisive double against Chelsea, is right now regarded as leading in the hierarchy, according to some opinion.

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

"He also has the advantage when it comes to making a meaningful impact at a major tournament."

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin makes it to the squad might come down to how many natural strikers the head coach decides to select.

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