The Leeds United striker has been in scintillating form this season.
Leeds United legend Eddie Gray believes Dominic Calvert-Lewin is as good as any striker in the game when fit and firing.
Calvert-Lewin hit double figures for the season earlier this month following his improvised chest finish in a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest. The free agent summer arrival has proven an incredible piece of business with Leeds gambling on his fitness and reaping the rewards.
Illness kept Calvert-Lewin out of Chelsea last week but prior to that, he’d featured in every league game since Newcastle at home in August. That availability and consistency has fuelled calls for an England call-up, with no fellow countrymen matching that 10-goal Premier League game tally so far.
“He’s a fit boy and he’s been terrific for us,” Gray told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. “He’s led the line well, he wins headers, he battles against central defenders. He’s a big lad, he’s strong, he’s getting in the box and scoring goals.
“If he keeps playing the way he is and scoring goals then to me, he’s as good as any striker playing in the game. It’s definitely given him a big lift coming to our club. I think he’s really enjoying his football. For a centre-forward, you can’t ask any more.”
Calvert-Lewin is among several first-team regulars performing way above their transfer fee - or lack of. His fellow striker Lukas Nmecha also arrived as a free agent and having scored his seventh goal of the season in the FA Cup at Birmingham City, now averages a goal or assist every 101 minutes across all competitions.
Eddie Gray on Ethan Ampadu and Lukas Nmecha importance
Daniel Farke’s first ever signing at Leeds almost three years ago was Ethan Ampadu, who joined in a £7million deal from Chelsea having suffered three relegations on loan. The Welshman has since become a lynchpin in central midfield and having adapted to the pace of Premier League football, looks as good as anyone he’s played against.
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“Ampadu has been an important signing,” Gray added. “Whether he’s playing at the back as a central defender or in midfield, he leads the side well. You can see him talking to players on the pitch, telling them where to go and what to do.
“He’s an important player for the side and he has been for the last few seasons. [Nmecha] has been terrific as well. You don’t know much about these players until you see them in the flesh and he’s been terrific, a big asset for our club.
“I think the thing about the players Daniel has got is they work very hard. The midfield players are up and down the pitch, strikers are making great runs off the ball, the defenders are strong. They’re all good athletes, they get around the pitch.”
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