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

Only one goal in his initial ten Premier League outings this season had plenty of doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were behind him.

However, a just four weeks afterwards, he has become the hottest forward in England after netting seven goals in 6 consecutive games.

His newest strike, in a tie against Sunderland, brought his total to eight, seeing him become the top English scorer in the Premier League so far this season.

A Stunning Return to Form

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

However, the statistics behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are genuinely impressive.

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

To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane did not achieve a run of this length - his top remains two individual five-match runs.

And the sole 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 Secret to the Hot Streak?

Why has Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in this period? A previous opponent's manager summed it up aptly.

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

That natural ability and positional sense inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a beloved player at his previous club.

Experts point to the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, helping a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus given the striker additional space.

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

"I've been through a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of lows. A challenge of mentality and I've persisted and kept going... I've believed in myself and here I am now."

His manager has voiced no surprise at this hot streak, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

The England Question

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has inevitably ignited discussions of an England recall.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, with four goals, but has not represented the country since the last European Championship.

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

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

Intense Rivalry

However, the battle for places behind Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, coming off a match-winning double against Chelsea, is currently considered to be leading in the pecking order, according to some opinion.

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

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

Ultimately, 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 hinge on whether the manager takes two or three centre-forwards," an pundit summarized. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."