Watkins Holds the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Still Secure the World Cup
A solitary goal in his initial ten English top division appearances this campaign had many doubting if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were over.
However, a only four weeks afterwards, he is the most talked-about attacker in England after scoring 7 goals in six consecutive games.
His most recent finish, in a tie versus Sunderland, took his season's haul to eight, making him the top English scorer in the Premier League this campaign.
A Stunning Resurgence
The 28-year-old signed for Leeds United on a Bosman move in the summer, following a nine-year period with Everton that was blighted by fitness issues in its final stages.
However, the numbers supporting his revival in Daniel Farke's new fast-breaking 3-5-2 setup are truly remarkable.
His six-game scoring streak sees him in prestigious company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League outings.
To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run this long - his best is two individual five-match streaks.
And the sole English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in the modern era is Jamie Vardy, who produced an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019.
The Secret to the Purple Patch?
What is behind Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in the past month? A latest opponent's manager summed it up perfectly.
"He has the ideal timing," the manager remarked. "He's intelligent and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."
That instinct and timing inside the box was what established him as a beloved player at his previous club.
Analysts point to the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, enabling a greater number of players to enter the box and occupy defenders, thus 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 endured 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 believed in myself and now I'm reaping the rewards."
His manager has expressed little astonishment at this hot streak, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the division.
World Cup Conversation
Calvert-Lewin's resurgence has inevitably fueled conversations of an England call-up.
The former Sheffield United player has 11 England appearances, with four goals, but has not featured for the country since the most recent European Championship.
Pundits feel the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can keep up this standard.
"He looks as fit as he has in a while," one said. "If he maintains this level of form... then he's going to be in a conversation for a World Cup place."
Fierce Rivalry
Yet, competition for places as backup to Harry Kane is incredibly tough.
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is right now seen as leading in the hierarchy, according to some opinion.
"If you compare the two players, Watkins holds the advantage in terms of using his speed to stretch teams," it was said.
"He also possesses the edge when it comes to making a decisive impact at a major finals."
Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad may depend on how many out-and-out strikers the national team coach decides to select.
"I think it might depend on whether the manager selects two or three centre-forwards," an pundit concluded. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."