Credit: Breaking Media

Daniel Lewis

Fri 20 March 2026 9:40, UK Updated Fri 20 March 2026 10:41, UK

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke will have both fingers crossed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin avoids any sort of injury as the striker is set for a surprise England call-up.

Calvert-Lewin earned the most recent of his 11 England caps in 2021, at which point he was an Everton player.

The 29-year-old has scored four goals for England at senior level – against Wales, Republic of Ireland and San Marino (two) – the most recent of which came almost five years ago to the day.

Despite hitting a strong patch of form for Leeds earlier this season, the forward was not expected to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s plans this month.

However, Calvert-Lewin – who has notably struggled with injury issues in the past – is set to be included in the squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Thomas Tuchel to include Dominic Calvert-Lewin in extended squad

As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein via X, Calvert-Lewin is part of an enlarged England squad for those upcoming friendlies.

Tuchel is clearly using this final international window prior to naming his World Cup squad to look at as many players as possible, as James Garner is another in line for a call-up.

Calvert-Lewin has scored 10 goals in 27 Premier League appearances for Leeds since arriving from Everton last summer.

Seven of those came in an incredible six-match spell between the end of November and end of December, helping to propel Leeds out of the relegation zone.

Just two goals in 12 have followed, with the ex-Everton ace also missing a penalty against Crystal Palace last weekend, but he remains a hugely important player for Farke.

And that is why the German will now have both fingers crossed that Calvert-Lewin, if used by Tuchel, stays injury-free for Leeds’ Premier League run-in.

Could Calvert-Lewin’s England call actually be a blessing for Leeds?

Calvert-Lewin’s relative drop off in form for Leeds has been a worry. Without the striker’s goals, Leeds have been unable to get as many points on the board as they would have liked.

And maybe this surprise England call will give Calvert-Lewin the morale boost he needs to get back to the form we saw a few months ago.

Farke will certainly hope that is the case, as will every last Leeds United supporters.

Calvert-Lewin is now five Premier League games without a goal and that needs to change soon if Leeds are to stay above the water.

As well as staying fit on England duty, fans will be praying the big man can just get back to his very best for his club side when back at Thorp Arch.