Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a late substitute on Tuesday as England beat Czechia 3-0 in their final Nations League game of the international break.
Calvert-Lewin returned to the England camp for the second time this calendar year, having missed out on a place in the World Cup squad. The Leeds man was rewarded for an excellent start to the season in which he’s scored four goals across all competitions.
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But selected by Thomas Tuchel as back-up to Harry Kane, Calvert-Lewin played a supporting role throughout the three-week break with his main competitor for minutes in scintillating form heading into this month’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. And it was no different on Tuesday.
Harry Kane scored twice for England against Czechia before being replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.placeholder image
Harry Kane scored twice for England against Czechia before being replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. | Getty Images
Kane started against Czechia at Wembley to claim his 125th cap, becoming the joint-highest all-time appearance maker alongside goalkeeper Peter Shilton. And after an unfortunate Vladimir Coufal own-goal, the Bayern Munich frontman scored twice to settle the game.
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The goal for 2-0 was beautifully worked, with Elliot Anderson clipping a ball out to Morgan Rogers on the right, who played an incredible first-time cross to Kane six yards out. The England striker’s second was more simple, heading home a corner at the back post.
Kane was given some time to try and grab a hat-trick goal before Tuchel eventually turned to Calvert-Lewin in the 82nd minute. But with the contest over and game broken up through substitutions, the Leeds man had little opportunity to make an impact.
According to FotMob, Calvert-Lewin had just seven touches of the ball during his eight-minute cameo, none of which were in the Czechia penalty area. The 29-year-old didn’t have any chances and was unable to get a single shot off, although he completed 100 per cent of his three attempted passes.
Overall, Calvert-Lewin played just 17 minutes of football during the international break, also coming off the bench late during England’s 3-2 defeat to Spain at the end of September. He’ll now return to Thorp Arch fit and with a point to prove.
James Trafford will also be heading back to Leeds after playing exactly half the minutes available. In a pre-planned decision, the Whites shot-stopper started twice before long-term first-choice Jordan Pickford returned.