Watkins vs. Calvert-Lewin: World Cup Dream on a Knife-Edge!

Watkins has the edge - but Calvert-Lewin could yet make World Cup

Watkins vs. Calvert-Lewin: World Cup Dream on a Kn...

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, remember him? The guy who was tearing it up for Everton a few years back? Well, he's back in the goals and currently sits atop the English Premier League scoring charts. Can he really force his way back into the England squad, a full five years after his last appearance for the national team? It's a long shot, but stranger things have happened.

A single goal in his first ten Premier League appearances this season had many, myself included, wondering if Calvert-Lewin's best days were firmly behind him. Injuries had plagued his final seasons at Everton, and a free transfer to Leeds United in the summer felt like a last roll of the dice. But his recent form has been nothing short of remarkable. That equalizer against Sunderland, a poacher's finish if ever there was one, took his tally to eight for the campaign, making him *the* leading English scorer in the league right now.

And it's not just the quantity, it's the consistency. His current six-game scoring streak is pretty elite company. Only ten other English players have managed a similar feat in Premier League history. Think about that for a second. Even Harry Kane, England's captain and all-time leading scorer, has never managed a run this long! His best is two separate five-match streaks. The only English striker to better Calvert-Lewin in recent memory is Jamie Vardy, who went on an eight-game spree for Leicester City back in 2019. So, is Tuchel watching?

What's been the key to this resurgence? Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris inadvertently provided the answer after that Leeds goal. The whole move was a thing of beauty, every Leeds player touching the ball before Calvert-Lewin slotted home. "He has the perfect timing," Le Bris said. "He came off the back of Nordi [Mukiele to score]. He's smart and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive just on time." That instinct, that knack for being in the right place at the right time, is what made him such a hit at Everton. And Leeds are playing to his strengths.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, a pundit on Match of the Day, highlighted the tactical shift that’s benefited Calvert-Lewin. "Leeds changing to a 3-5-2 formation has also helped in getting more players in the box to occupy defenders, which has given him a little more space. Leeds have also played to his strengths recently, getting the ball into the box as early as they can, making sure they're giving him enough chances to score goals." Fair point. Get the ball into the box, and Calvert-Lewin will sniff out a chance.

Former Chelsea and Everton winger Pat Nevin also chimed in, noting the improvement in his movement. He pointed out a missed opportunity in the first half, but lauded Calvert-Lewin's awareness for the goal. "For the goal he did that and it was a lovely little flick beyond the keeper, a classic centre-forward's goal. For the fact that he did not have massive amounts to do in the game today, the things he did do were exceptionally classy."

Look, Calvert-Lewin is definitely impressing, but let's not get carried away just yet. Ollie Watkins is having a great season too, and he's probably ahead of Calvert-Lewin in the pecking order. But if Calvert-Lewin keeps scoring at this rate, Tuchel will have a very interesting decision to make come World Cup time. It's a long shot, but the dream is alive.