The Leeds United forward - who has 11 caps for his country - has not played for England since 2021
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
10:17, 18 Mar 2026
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is spying a place in the World Cup squad
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin is spying a place in the World Cup squad(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Leeds United title winner Gary McAllister believes Dominic Calvert-Lewin himself would be “gobsmacked” to make England’s World Cup squad this summer.
Thomas Tuchel names his first Three Lions squad of 2026 on Friday ahead of friendlies against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay and Ao Tanaka’s Japan at Wembley later this month, with Calvert-Lewin awaiting the German’s selection decision.
The striker has netted 10 goals this season but has scored just once in his past eight outings and missed a penalty in Leeds’ goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Calvert-Lewin has not been shy about his World Cup ambitions, albeit has remained level-headed about the prospect.
Tuchel's selection this week could give an indication of the 29-year-old’s chances of making this summer’s tournament, which is realistically his last chance to play at the finals. Of course, what happens in the last eight games of the Premier League season could have a telling impact.
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McAllister believes that Calvert-Lewin may be surprised to make the England squad as things stand but reckons a strong end to the season could sway matters, given the type of striker profile he is.
He told Grosvenor Casino: “When you look at the options, Ollie Watkins is going through a little tough period, although he’s a fantastic player. Danny Welbeck is another one.
“Calvert-Lewin would probably be someone who might even himself be gobsmacked to make the squad, so he’d be really happy to be there. But the question is, if you take Harry Kane out of the side, who is capable of leading the line like that?
“A fully fit Calvert-Lewin can do that. I’d lean towards him if he finishes the season strongly. He’s putting a bit of pressure on Thomas Tuchel to pick him.
"There’s always big pressure being Leeds United’s number nine, so his capability to cope with that is definitely there.”
McAllister, who won the 1992 top-flight title at Leeds and earned 57 Scotland caps, believes Calvert-Lewin could be the difference in keeping United in the Premier League having been left impressed by what he offers in the final third.
He added: “Those couple of seasons he had at Everton, he was always in and around the England squad. He’s a proper handful leading the line and getting goals.
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“He’s very good at linking play, running in behind. He’s an old-school centre-forward. If the Leeds players can get decent service into that box, he’s the one who can get the goals that will keep us safe at Elland Road.”