Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice to help beat Crystal Palace. The Englishman has been in red hot form since joining the Whites back in the summer. This begs the Question, is Calvert-Lewin back?
The England international joined Everton from Sheffield United back in 2016. He was relatively unknown at this stage in his career, having loan spells at Northampton Town and Stalybridge. It did not happen immediately for him at Everton, only scoring one goal in seventeen Premier League appearances. In fact he would only score more than five league goals two years later in the 2018/19 season.
This however, was when it all began to boom for the Sheffield born striker. Thirteen league goals, an impressive feat for an Everton side that finished twelfth. Footballing legend Carlo Ancelotti took over at Everton and showed the world the quality that Calvert-Lewin possesed.
Thirteen was not enough for Calvert Lewin though, as he then scored sixteen the following season. He had made a name for himself, proving he was one of the most clinical strikers in the league. Even earning a spot in the England squad for the Euros. He could not carry on however.
Even in the early days of his Everton career Calvert-Lewin struggled with small injuries. In the 2021/22 season though was when this became too much. A broken toe prevented him from playing in the first few months of the season and then a number of other muscle injuries began to plague the midfielder resulting in him missing much of the season, only scoring five time in nineteen appearances for Everton.
He matched his appearances the following season but scored only two league goals. He was able to remain relatively fit in a struggling Everton team in the 2023/24 season but his performances were criticised for lacking in the final third and not contributing enough. In the end he finished that season with his best goal tally in years, seven goals. His last season at Everton he scored three goals, but was able to play more football again.
This was not enough for Everton as they released him for free at the end of the season.
In August he joined newly promoted side Leeds United. This season started off slowly for the Striker, netting his first goal against Wolves in his third league appearances for the Whites. What followed was a unfortunate for Calvert-Lewin, a six game run without scoring. For a Premier League striker this is devastating, but Calvert-Lewin did not let it knock him down.
He scored a goal in Leeds 3-2 loss against Manchester City, a bitter defeat against top opposition. This was the start of a run for the striker. He scored in the next game to help beat Chelsea, and then again for a draw against Champions Liverpool. He then got another against Brentford in a 1-1 draw. Finally this brings us to now, in his last match he scored two to defeat FA Cup holders Crystal Palace. This puts him on seven goals, matching his best season, after injury problems, at Everton.
This will give Premier League fans something to wonder, is this just a Purple Patch? Or is Dominic Calvert-Lewin back? If he is, will he be on the plane to the World Cup in the summer? Only time will tell.
