Watkins Possesses the Advantage - However Calvert-Lewin Could Still Secure the World Cup

A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division outings this season had many doubting whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were over.

Yet, a mere four weeks on, he stands as the hottest forward in England after scoring 7 goals in six straight games.

His latest goal, in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, establishing him as the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this campaign.

An Impressive Revival

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

Yet, the data supporting his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 formation are genuinely remarkable.

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 matches.

To put that into perspective, even England captain Harry Kane never managed a run of this length - his longest remains two individual five-match streaks.

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

The Secret to the Scoring Form?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in recent weeks? A latest opponent's manager explained it aptly.

"He has the impeccable timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a excellent striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment."

That natural ability and timing inside the box was what established him as a beloved player at his former team.

Experts note the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, helping more players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thereby provided the striker a little more space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed 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 ups and lots of downs. A test of character and I've hung in there and kept going... I've had faith and here I am now."

His manager has shown no surprise at this purple patch, stating again that the player is "one of the best strikers" in the league.

International Conversation

Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has predictably fueled discussions of an England return.

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

Pundits believe the striker will be in consideration for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this form.

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

Intense Competition

Yet, competition for places behind Harry Kane is intense.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a match-winning two goals versus Chelsea, is currently considered to be ahead in the selection race, according to some analysis.

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

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

In the end, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad might come down to how many specialist strikers the head coach decides to take.

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