The Leeds United striker has put fitness issues to bed and regained a place in the England squad.
Former England striker Michael Owen has praised everyone involved with keeping Dominic Calvert-Lewin playing at Leeds United - having struggled with injury himself.
Calvert-Lewin arrived at Leeds last summer with question marks over his injury record but managing director Robbie Evans backed the club’s medical staff to manage him well. And that’s exactly what they’ve done, with the 29-year-old not missing a single Premier League game through injury since August - he was ill for a recent trip to Chelsea.
That availability has seen Calvert-Lewin score 10 goals in 28 Premier League games, enough to earn him an England re-call for the last break before this summer’s World Cup. Barring any injuries, he’ll hit 35 top-flight appearances in a single season for the first time since 2019/20.
“I’ve been there myself. Some injuries are difficult to fully recover from and come back to be 100% at Premier League level,” Owen told the YEP. “You keep picking up niggling injuries which stop you playing to the top level you have been in the past is something concerning.
“But Dominic has shown a good run of games at the top level, so credit to everyone around him for this as mentally it can be an issue as well. Then, when you are playing games, scoring goals, this brings good confidence so all round everyone must take credit for the form, goals and performances.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Leeds United goal struggles addressed
While 10 strikes in 28 games is an impressive record, Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring numbers have dropped off in recent weeks. He’s scored just once in his last nine Premier League games and been guilty of squandering some chances he might have buried over the festive period.
Read More
That relatively baron run has come amid a tough patch for Leeds all-round, however, with none of Calvert-Lewin’s teammates scoring in the last four league matches. Chance-creation has been a real problem, like at home to Brentford where Daniel Farke’s side created just .054 Expected Goals at home.
“The Premier League is tough,” two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Owen added. “Leeds had a good end to the year and beginning of 2026, picking up plenty of points to push up the table, but now the form as levelled out.
“I believe they can stay up. Their run in isn’t as tough as others around them and also, having winnable games at Elland Road, they can get back scoring goals as their defence is pretty good.
Continue Reading