Dominic Calvert-Lewin provides Leeds United fitness update after 'physical' Brentford clash
The Leeds United striker faced a tough battle but got his goal against Brentford on Sunday.
Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is enjoying a great spell of fitness and form after scoring his fifth Premier League goal of the season in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Calvert-Lewin rose highest to head home substitute Willy Gnonto’s cross in the 82nd minute, cancelling out Jordan Henderson’s opener to earn Leeds a point. The 28-year-old used every ounce of his experience to work space away from a ‘physical’ Brentford defence, starting in an offside position but moving back onside in time to receive the pass.
That was Calvert-Lewin’s fourth goal in as many Premier League games but equally as important as that goalscoring run is his continued availability. Since making his Premier League debut against Newcastle United in August, the free agent striker has featured in every league game either from the start or off the bench.
A minor hamstring injury suffered at Brighton in November remains the only issue Calvert-Lewin has picked up, and even that only reduced him to a substitute’s appearance at Nottingham Forest the following weekend. And speaking after Sunday’s draw at Brentford, the Leeds frontman reflected on his fitness journey.
“I’m feeling good,” Calvert-Lewin told Sky Sports. “I think the performances are speaking for themselves at the moment. I’m feeling good, feeling healthy. I think this is the fittest I’ve been in a long time and I've worked extremely hard to get in this position.
“When you get a certain narrative around you and you’re tarred with a certain brush, it's quite hard to shake it. For me it was always about being mentally tough and hanging in there at certain points. Then just step by step, day by day putting performances together. All of a sudden, the tide starts to turn and you start scoring goals, that's the life of a centre-forward.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Leeds United fitness questions
Questions were raised regarding Calvert-Lewin’s injury record when he joined Leeds, and while managing director Robbie Evans acknowledged the risk he placed ‘tremendous faith’ in the medical staff to do their bit. He also points to the successes in having Manor Solomon and Sam Byram available for large chunks of previous seasons as evidence such a gamble can pay off.
So far, they’ve done a good job keeping Calvert-Lewin available and he’s even been able to start consecutive games during the quick winter turnarounds with midweek football. And for the striker himself, it’s been about controlling what he can control and trying to ignore the outside noise.
“It’s all uncontrollables,” he said of his prior reputation. “I think in football, as a player you have to try and control the controllables. The moment you start letting too much of the external stuff bother you, that's when you can get yourself in a rut.
“But I keep my circle small - my wife, my daughter and my Dad. I think that keeps me grounded. I think as I’ve got older and more mature, staying more balanced and not letting so much of the outside stuff concern me. I just focus on what I can control on the pitch.”