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

A solitary goal in his opening ten English top division games this campaign had plenty of doubting whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's prime were over.

However, a mere four weeks later, he has become the hottest forward in England following bagging 7 goals in 6 straight games.

His latest finish, in a tie versus Sunderland, took his total to eight, establishing him as the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League this term.

A Remarkable Return to Form

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

But, the data supporting his revival in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 setup are genuinely notable.

His six-game scoring run puts him in elite company as only the 11th English player to score in six or more consecutive Premier League fixtures.

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

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

The Secret to the Hot Streak?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so hard to stop in recent weeks? A latest opponent's manager described it succinctly.

"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 instinct and timing inside the penalty area was what established him as a fan favourite at his former team.

Analysts highlight the system adjustment to a 3-5-2 as a major factor, enabling a greater number of players to occupy the box and occupy defenders, thus provided the striker additional space.

"He is a archetypal centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little flick beyond the keeper, a classic centre-forward's goal."

"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of highs and lots of lows. A challenge of resolve and I've persevered and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result."

His manager has shown complete confidence at this hot streak, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the division.

World Cup Dilemma

Calvert-Lewin's return to form has inevitably sparked conversations of an England recall.

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

Observers believe 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 remarked. "If he continues this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place."

Fierce Rivalry

However, competition for places supporting Harry Kane is fierce.

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

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

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

Ultimately, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad may depend on how many specialist strikers the national team coach decides to include.

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