Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned a recall to the England squad in the March international break. This came after the strong season he had had with the Whites.
He was one of the top scoring English strikers in the league, and was handed a huge chance by Thomas Tuchel. The plan by the England boss was to evaluate the country’s options outside Harry Kane, so Calvert-Lewin was handed an appearance in one friendly. Stan Collymore posted on Twitter/X this week that the 29-year old would be a better option for England than Ollie Watkins who he was not impressed with after watching the Conference League semi-final on Thursday night.
“Watkins. Have gone to bat for him when others would have dropped him, but he’s nowhere near Kane’s backup level right now.
“He may struggle to get on the plane. A fit Calvert-Lewin gives a whole lot more reliable front play.”
Former England star backs Leeds United man to make the World Cup
Since his return from the international break, the striker has added three more goals to his tally. He was on the scoresheet on Friday night as Leeds United beat Burnley at Elland Road. That win now sees the Whites with 43 points in the Premier League, taking one huge step closer to safety.
After the game, former Spurs and England man Aaron Lennon was impressed with Calvert-Lewin on the night. Lennon said that his form this season would surely push Thomas Tuchel to consider his case ahead of the World Cup.
“I thought he [Calvert-Lewin] was fantastic. I thought he led the line brilliantly. I thought [Jayden] Bogle on that right-hand side was brilliant” he said on talkSPORT.
“But Dominic Calvert-Lewin, we spoke about him before the game, his all-round play was fantastic, he led the line brilliantly.
“I thought there were moments in the game where he looked like he was not that much involved, but his winning flick-ons, his chasing down lost causes and then a wonderful bit of play for the first goal. And then he gets his tap-in at the end.
“And hopefully, that could lead him to nudging Thomas Tuchel to put him in the England squad”
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What are Calvert-Lewin’s chances of making the World Cup?
As things stand, the Leeds United striker is on the brink of making the squad. Dominic Solanke has been ruled out for the season with an injury, and Ollie Watkins has looked a shadow of himself. The Aston Villa man has scored just three league goals since February. Brighton striker Danny Welbeck could be a sneaky candidate, but not making the last England squad harms his chances. From now till the end of the season, if Calvert-Lewin can keep adding to his tally, then Thomas Tuchel will have a lot to think about next month.
