Chris Sutton tips Leeds United 'game-changer' for shock England World Cup call-up
A period of form not seen since 2021 has made one Leeds United player a surprise tip to join England at the 2026 World Cup.
Chris Sutton has tipped Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a shock return to the England squad if his current Leeds United form continues.
Calvert-Lewin scored in a third consecutive Premier League appearance during last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Liverpool, confidently burying a penalty to halve Leeds’ two-goal deficit. Anton Stach made it 2-2 shortly after and while Dominik Szoboszlai put the reigning champions back ahead, there was one more twist when Ao Tanaka earned a point in the sixth minute of added-time.
Not only is that three-game scoring run Calvert-Lewin’s best since February 2021, but it has come against a trio of top opponents in Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. The 28-year-old’s link-up play around those goals has also been a massive factor in bringing other attackers into play and improving Leeds’ recent fortunes.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin since he’s come back into the team has been sensational,” Sutton told BBC Sport’s Monday Night Club. “He has given them someone to hit, a focal point, a way to get up the pitch and if you play someone off him, he’s a real handful.
“The game-changer is Calvert-Lewin. Everybody talks about the World Cup and England’s strikers, I’ll tell you what if he goes on a run, there’s no reason why he can’t make the World Cup.”
Calvert-Lewin’s upturn in form has come at a great time for Farke, who entered that three-game run against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool under growing pressure. Reports even suggested the German could have lost his job had three defeats followed but four points is an encouraging return.
Chris Sutton’s verdict on Daniel Farke turnaround
What’s more, on the basis of last week Farke has put to bed concerns regarding his ability to adapt tactically, both in terms of approach and in-game substitution decisions. The Leeds boss brought Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Tanaka on with his side 2-0 down against Liverpool and all three had a role in the goals that followed.
“I'm really pleased for Daniel Farke because I think things which have been levelled at him in terms of not being proactive enough with his substitutions, I covered the game against Manchester City,” Sutton added. “Manchester City were so dominant in the first half, all of a sudden he made changes, brought Dominic Calvert-Lewin on, went with a back three, they were more direct.
“Then they beat Chelsea, played with great intensity… Then to show the courage to come back against Liverpool as they did to get the point, I think Leeds fans are seeing a good bit of fight in the team, resilience. But also a team with organisation and a manager who does have a game plan.
“This season, I think they have been really competitive, it would have been harsh to sack him after a pretty competitive start and I'm pleased because the last few games, I think that they have shown that they are going to be competitive under him.”