Calvert-Lewin Aims to Be Kane’s World Cup Understudy, Tuchel to Announce Squad
Leeds United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is determined to secure a place in England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, leveraging his experience as Harry Kane’s backup. England manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to announce his latest squad on Friday, with Calvert-Lewin firmly in contention after a strong season with Leeds.
Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League Form
The 28-year-old Calvert-Lewin is currently the joint-highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League, having netted 10 goals this season. His form has placed him among the forwards pushing for inclusion in Tuchel’s squad.
Past Experience with the National Team
Calvert-Lewin has earned 11 caps for England, with his most recent appearance coming in July 2021 during a 4-0 victory over Ukraine in the quarterfinal stage of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament. England ultimately lost to Italy in the final.
Acknowledging Kane’s Position
Speaking to ESPN’s ‘The Football Reporters’ podcast, Calvert-Lewin acknowledged the challenge of displacing Harry Kane, who currently plays for Bayern Munich and has scored 48 goals in 43 matches this season. “You have to be realistic,” Calvert-Lewin said. “He [Kane] is one of the best centre-forwards, if not the best centre-forward in the world, he’s prolific at the moment and he’s England captain. So to dislodge him from that position is an extremely tough task. You could say I’ve been his understudy before at the 2021 Euros so I’ve experienced what it’s like.”
Mental Fortitude and Readiness
Calvert-Lewin emphasized the mental strength required to be a reliable backup. “You have to be mentally tough and be ready at all times that if you’re called upon, that you are ready to move,” he explained. He reflected on past experiences during the Euros, admitting there were moments he felt he could have contributed more. “I was a little bit younger back then and there were tough moments during that tournament where I felt that maybe I could have been put on, or wanted to play out of pure eagerness and desire to make an impact. That didn’t happen as much as I would have liked but now, in hindsight, I look back and you have to appreciate what’s in front of you.”
Focus on Leeds United
Despite his World Cup aspirations, Calvert-Lewin remains focused on his current club commitments. “It’s hard to look at the World Cup when what’s in front of me now is keeping Leeds in the Premier League,” he stated. “That was my main objective at the start of the season. I always understand that representing your country is a byproduct of good form and goals. That’s what’s required in order to achieve our goals at club level.” Leeds currently sits 15th in the league, three points above the relegation zone.
Tuchel’s Potential Involvement
Calvert-Lewin has not yet spoken with Tuchel but remains open to communication. “I haven’t spoken to the manager [Tuchel] but it’s similarly not something that I need or feel is necessary. If he needs to speak to me, he will and it would mean I’m doing well on the football pitch.”