Leeds 4-1 Newcastle: Is ‘unplayable’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin in line for England recall?
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‘Unplayable’ & ‘almost perfect’- Calvert-Lewin set for England recall?
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored four goals in 12 appearances for England since making his senior international debut in 2020.
By Ciaran Kelly, Football reporter at Elland Road
Published 7 minutes ago
Newcastle United must be sick of the sight of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Leeds United striker has now scored eight times against the club he was previously linked with in years gone by. So you suspect the beleaguered visitors will have been a little relieved to see him substituted late on after he had a hand in two of Leeds’ goals in this impressive 4-1 win.
Elland Road was unsurprisingly on its feet to hand Calvert-Lewin a deserved standing ovation when he came off. On a night Leeds fans repeatedly taunted Newcastle for spending "all that money" with little return, at least it was a free transfer who caused the visitors real problems with a goal and an assist.
So is the 29-year-old making a case for an England recall? Leeds manager Daniel Farke certainly thinks so as he threw his weight behind Calvert-Lewin and a number of others in his side with "English passports."
"He’s a handful and tough for each and every defender," he said.
"He’s difficult to play against. He’s at a top fitness level. You can see he plays with confidence and a good rhythm, but also benefits from a really strong team and players who work for him."
Farke continued, "Dominic is a crucial player and if he shows this type of form, he’s definitely one of the best strikers in this league. It’s the best league in the world and that more or less sums up what I think about him as a player."
Recent Form and England Considerations
Calvert-Lewin has been in England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s thoughts in recent months. The striker was previously called up by his country back in March after catching the eye in his debut season at Leeds. However, after featuring for England against Uruguay during that particular international window, the striker ultimately missed out on the World Cup in the summer.
Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins instead travelled as captain Harry Kane’s deputies. At a time when the marginally older pair are both playing in Saudi Arabia, Calvert-Lewin is staking his claim with his performances closer to home in this country. He has scored three goals in his past four games as the Premier League’s leading English striker – just as Tuchel prepares to name his squad on Friday for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain and the Czech Republic.
Notable Achievements
Calvert-Lewin is also just the second Leeds player to score in five consecutive Premier League appearances at Elland Road after Mark Viduka between March and August 2003. Such was Calvert-Lewin’s hunger, he looked dumbfounded after learning his header for Leeds’ second against Newcastle had been awarded to him.
