(Credit Imago)

George Overhill

Tue 23 December 2025 14:10, UK

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been backed for the England World Cup squad after leaving Tony Cascarino aghast for Leeds United.

Calvert-Lewin had a nightmare debut for Leeds against Sheffield Wednesday as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup, and struggled to find the net in the Premier League early.

But just as he’d lost his place to Lukas Nmecha as the lone striker Daniel Farke opted to finally try two up front and the former Everton forward hasn’t looked back since.

Farke was heading for the sack at Elland Road when he brought Calvert-Lewin off the bench at Man City and the Englishman changed the game.

Despite fighting back from two goals down the Whites fell short due to a late Phil Foden winner, but are unbeaten in four since, with Calvert-Lewin scoring six in his past five to come roaring into the England conversation.

Cascarino wowed by Calvert-Lewin explosion

Calvert-Lewin scored twice as Leeds beat Crystal Palace 4-1 on Sunday and Cascarino believes it was especially “clever” to use him to get onto second balls in the box rather than use his excellent aerial ability to provide the initial flick-ons.

The former Republic of Ireland international striker believes Farke’s switch to two up top is crucial to the success and will help the 28-year-old avoid the injury problems that plagued the later years of his career at Everton.

And with options behind Harry Kane in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad sparse currently Cascarino believes Calvert-Lewin has put himself in an excellent position to head to the USA, Canada and Mexico-hosted tournament in the summer.

Writing in his column for The Times he said: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the most extraordinary strikers in football.

“He is powerful, has an incredible leap and is the best at heading a ball in the game — and I have seen him dominate some of the Premier League’s best defenders in the air.

“If he can remain fit, these qualities would make him the perfect back-up option to Harry Kane for Thomas Tuchel’s England at the World Cup.”

• Read More: Anton Stach reveals exactly how he proved Leeds United bench wrong in Crystal Palace win

Calvert-Lewin makes mockery of transfer market

Maybe this is nothing but a purple patch and by the time the clocks change back next year it will feel like little more than a fever dream that nobody could keep Calvert-Lewin from scoring and he was being roundly touted for the World Cup.

But unless or until that happens Farke and the Leeds fanbase should ride the wave for as long as they can.

It isn’t too much to suggest that this positive run of results through a packed December, when so many teams start to falter, could end up being what keeps this side in the Premier League this term, and helps Farke break the unwanted reputation for being unable to operate in the top flight.

Either way Calvert-Lewin’s current huge success is threatening to make the hundreds of millions thrown around in every transfer window look completely arbitrary.

His low-key exit from Merseyside was relatively unsurprising, and given his fitness and scoring record in recent seasons it wasn’t a shock that long-held links to the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle and Man United came to nothing, but even Whites fans could be excused for being slightly underwhelmed at his arrival at Elland Road.

And yet with huge fees paid out across for the Premier League for strikers last summer it is Calvert-Lewin who is proving the greatest value for money across the division from that cohort, and whether by luck or design is taking many by surprise.

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