The clamour for a dramatic England recall is growing louder with every passing week, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is providing the most compelling argument possible. The striker's predatory first-half brace powered Leeds United to a commanding 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Saturday, continuing a remarkable renaissance that is impossible for Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel to ignore.
Elland Road Erupts for England's Potential Number Nine
The home fans left no doubt about their belief, serenading their new hero with chants of ‘England’s number nine’ and even adapting Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ in his honour. This adoration marks a stunning turnaround for a player whose free transfer arrival from Everton in the summer was met with muted excitement. After three seasons plagued by injury and poor form at Goodison Park, Calvert-Lewin had become a forgotten man.
However, the lure of playing for Yorkshire's biggest club proved irresistible. After a slow start following his move, the boyhood Sheffield United fan has emphatically found his feet, embodying the fighting spirit Daniel Farke demands. He showcased that commitment early on against Palace, suffering a nasty head injury in a collision with captain Marc Guehi but soldiering on courageously.
A Clinical Display and a Statement Victory
His perseverance was richly rewarded. In the 38th minute, he reacted quickest to a flick-on from a long throw, saw his initial close-range effort saved by Dean Henderson, and calmly slotted home the rebound. Just before half-time, he was perfectly positioned to head home from point-blank range after a clever flick-on by Jaka Bijol.
This was Calvert-Lewin's first Premier League brace since November 2020 for Everton against Fulham, and he threatened to claim the matchball throughout. His double made him the first Leeds player to score in five successive top-flight matches since Mark Viduka in 2003. The one-way traffic continued after the break, with captain Ethan Ampadu blasting in a third on the hour after beating the offside trap.
World Cup Dreams and Leeds' Survival Bid
While a late Justin Devenny penalty denied Leeds a clean sheet, Anton Stach curled in a superb 20-yard free-kick deep into stoppage time to cap a superb night. The result lifts Farke's side to 16th in the table, making it four games unbeaten as they look to secure Premier League survival.
All eyes, however, remain on their in-form striker. With six goals in his last five Premier League appearances, Calvert-Lewin is arguably in the form of his career. While Harry Kane's position as England's first-choice striker is unassailable, the dearth of convincing alternatives means Calvert-Lewin's stunning resurgence is perfectly timed. With a World Cup on the horizon next year, the 28-year-old, who last won a cap in July 2021, is making an irresistible late push for a place on the plane.
