Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Fine form helps Leeds striker silence critics

Calvert-Lewin signed a three-year contract with Leeds when he joined on a free transfer in August having ended a nine-year spell with Everton on a disappointing note.

The ex-Sheffield United player may have earned 11 England caps during his time with the Toffees, but ended up leaving at the end of last season when his contract expired after being hindered by a glut of bad injuries.

Indeed, Calvert-Lewin has missed nearly 600 days through injury since the 2018-19 season.

However, this campaign though he has been available for 14 of Leeds’ 16 top-flight matches.

“This is the fittest I’ve been in a long time and I’ve worked extremely hard to get in this position,” he said.

“When you get a certain narrative around you and are tarred with a certain brush, it’s quite hard to shake it.”

Calvert-Lewin’s purple patch has coincided with Leeds reigniting their Premier League survival bid.

Daniel Farke’s side have taken five points from their last three matches to move out of the relegation zone, having previously been on a four-match losing streak.

Calvert-Lewin’s former team-mate for club and country Conor Coady told BBC Radio 5 Live: “If Leeds can keep him fit and firing they have a right chance of staying in the division.

“The amount we missed him [when he was injured] when I played with him was unbelievable and you felt it week after week.

“People just think he’s a big lad you can go long to, but technically he’s very good. You play the ball into his feet he can set, he can spin, he can hold the ball, he can get you up the pitch.”