Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in fine form as of late and could return to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
People will now say how much Daniel Farke ‘locked in’ after nearly being sacked at Leeds United, quickly turning things around in December 2025.
The German manager turned a run of six defeats in seven games into a seven-match unbeaten streak. In fact, since that bad sequence, they have gone on to lose just seven times in the following 36 games.
But Daniel Farke ‘locking in’, in this case, actually means leaning more on physicality and a ‘bruising’ style of football. And Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been crucial to that.
Leeds started playing better in the last defeat of that run, losing 2-3 to Manchester City away. That game coincided with the striker going on a six-match goalscoring run, netting seven times overall.
Thomas Tuchel noticed and included him in the England squad in March 2026. That actually broke a nearly five-year hiatus from international football. Calvert-Lewin had last represented his country in the 2021 Euros, when he played just 18 minutes.
The call-up actually reignited what was a faded goalscoring run at the time. DCL scored five goals in his final nine games of the season immediately after returning from international duty.
And he has carried this fine form into the start of the new campaign. It actually started in pre-season, when he failed to score or assist in just one of Leeds’ four friendlies he played in. This included a brace against Liverpool, a goal against RB Leipzig and two assists against Augsburg.
In competitive matches during the 2026/27 season, he has three goals and one assist in six matches. And four goal contributions in his last four appearances, which could see him make the England squad once again.
Why is Dominic Calvert-Lewin a valid shout for England?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fight in the England squad is for playing second fiddle to Harry Kane. And having the Bayern Munich star in a deeper role with another striker up front is almost impossible to imagine as long as Jude Bellingham is healthy.
The duo combined incredibly well during the 2026 World Cup. To the point that Bellingham even became their attacking protagonist towards the end of the tournament. Thomas Tuchel will certainly want to build off those two having touches near the opposition goal.
This is precisely why England don’t necessarily need the best or most clynical striker on the bench. Having two specialists in hold-up play/aerial game and running in behind would be enough to give the manager enough optionality to change games in desperate scenarios late on.
Tuchel took Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney to North America. There were also shouts for Calvert-Lewin himself, Danny Welbeck and Dominic Solanke – who wasn’t in peak physical conditions to properly contend for a spot on the plane.
The Leeds No.9 has underperformed his expected goals tally for eight straight Premier League seasons. The last – and only – time he finished a league campaign with more goals than xG was for Everton in 2018/19.
| Season | Goals | Expected Goals | xG Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | 2 | 2.5 | -0.5 |
| 2025/26 | 14 | 15.8 | -1.8 |
| 2024/25 | 3 | 6.8 | -3.8 |
| 2023/24 | 7 | 12.9 | -5.9 |
| 2022/23 | 2 | 5.8 | -3.8 |
| 2021/22 | 5 | 6.5 | -1.5 |
| 2020/21 | 16 | 16.3 | -0.3 |
| 2019/20 | 13 | 15.3 | -2..3 |
| 2018/19 | 6 | 5.5 | +0.5 |
| 2017/18 | 4 | 4.9 | -0.9 |
| 2016/17 | 1 | 1.1 | -0.1 |
But the very fact that he has gotten himself into good goalscoring positions, despite playing mostly for sides that struggle to create chances, could be just what England need.
Calvert-Lewin currently ranks fourth in big chances per 90 minutes in the 2026/27 Premier League (1.4). Only Erling Haaland (1.8), Charalampos Kostoulas (1.6) and Thierno Barry (1.4) are ahead of him among those to have played 180+ minutes so far.
He also previously ranked in the top-10 in this metric last season (5th, 1.1), 2024/25 (8th, 1.1) and 2020/21 (6th, 1.0).
Not to mention the aerial prowess. England often tried to go long in the World Cup, but mostly looking for runners such as Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke. Having Calvert-Lewin’s presence would help Tuchel to make his team reach the attacking half faster – and keep the ball there.
Calvert-Lewin is third in aerial duels won per90 this year (5.4), while also ranking fourth in aerial duels contested per90 (9.8) and having the best success rate of the top six in the category (56%).
He had already ranked fourth in aerial duels contested per90 last year (10.5) and third the year before (9.5). Plus 11th in aerial duels won per90 (4.2) last season and third the previous one (4.8).
Comparing him to other potential candidates for back-up striker, he excels in the air – and his presence is also helpful at the back.
He is relatively safe with the ball, averaging the fewest tackles received of any player other than Welbeck, who hasn’t played enough for Chelsea in the Premier League to have relevant stats yet.
And also ranks first among the five in shot accuracy, despite missing his fair share of big chances so far. But, as we mentioned, receiving them in the first place is almost as important as what he does with them.
Not to mention, of course, the level of difficulty he faces week in, week out, compared to Watkins and Toney.
Considering play style, it would be more logical to have two separate battles between Watkins and Welbeck, and then Calvert-Lewin and Toney. Toney won his in the World Cup, but it may be time for Calvert-Lewin going forward.