{"id":656861,"date":"2025-12-27T00:50:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T00:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/656861\/"},"modified":"2025-12-27T00:50:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T00:50:32","slug":"dominic-calvert-lewins-incredible-revival-shot-conversion-rate-has-quadrupled-while-daniel-farkes-warmth-works-a-charm-at-leeds-after-strikers-much-need-everton-divorce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/656861\/","title":{"rendered":"Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s incredible revival: Shot-conversion rate has QUADRUPLED, while Daniel Farke’s warmth works a charm at Leeds after striker’s much-need Everton divorce"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been a giddy week for Leeds<\/a> United fans and there is no disputing who has given them the most joy. Forget Santa Claus or even Daniel Farke<\/a>, it is Dominic Calvert-Lewin<\/a>, the striker who has been dubbed ‘the ultimate Christmas<\/a> gift’.<\/p>\n

With six goals in his last five appearances, including a double in last Saturday\u2019s swatting aside of Crystal Palace<\/a>, Calvert-Lewin has started to show the level of form that plenty felt was always there, deep inside, but many feared was destined to remain hidden away.<\/p>\n

Calvert-Lewin, for too long, had been a player whose name was central to injury bulletins and it is only 12 months since Sean Dyche<\/a>, his then manager, was bemoaning that the striker had ‘more to offer’ as his form fell off a cliff. Playing for England<\/a>? He was lucky to get on Everton<\/a>\u2019s bench.<\/p>\n

So challenging was that final season on Merseyside, as his contract situation drifted, he went 16 games without scoring and only managed three in total. It was apparent that a parting of the ways was necessary to relight a fire.<\/p>\n

As far back as the summer of 2019, Calvert-Lewin had a dream of wearing Everton\u2019s No9 shirt, as his mentor, Duncan Ferguson, once did. He loved the idea of being idolised by the Gwladys Street and wanted the responsibilities that came with it.<\/p>\n

But as it turned out, divorce was necessary. The sums were never going to add up for him \u2013 or for Everton \u2013 to remain on Merseyside. He was enthused by the idea of playing abroad but there wasn\u2019t necessarily a long list of suitors in England.<\/p>\n

\"Dominic <\/p>\n

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored six goals in his past five appearances for Leeds United\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"His <\/p>\n

His late header away to Brentford earned a crucial point for Leeds before Christmas\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"And <\/p>\n

And the 28-year-old struck twice from close range at set-pieces in a 4-1 thumping of Crystal Palace<\/p>\n

\u2018Not because of his ability as a player, but purely because of his injury record, it was very difficult for anyone to take that chance and spend the money (on his wages),\u2019 Wayne Rooney, who played with Calvert-Lewin at Everton, noted on his podcast this week.<\/p>\n

\u2018But if he continues this, then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be talked about \u2013 or even get an opportunity \u2013 to go to the World Cup, purely because of the lack of forwards that England have got. He\u2019s a threat in the box, he\u2019s good in the air, and he\u2019s scoring goals.\u2019<\/p>\n

It goes deeper than that. All of Calvert-Lewin\u2019s numbers have improved since he turned up at Elland Road. He\u2019s gone from averaging a goal every 538 minutes to one every 147 minutes; the distance he is covering in matches has increased from 10.3km to 11km; his shot conversion rate has quadrupled.<\/p>\n

His renaissance has come at just the right moment, easing pressure on Farke, who as recently as November 24 had found himself in conflict with the Kop, who were telling him that he ‘didn\u2019t know what he was doing’ and looked on the verge of mutiny.<\/p>\n

Yet Farke is the kind of manager who can instil belief into players. He\u2019s bubbly, warm and has clearly struck up a rapport with Calvert-Lewin, a man who thrives when he is confident. Slowly but surely that confidence seems to be returning and the results are there for all to see.<\/p>\n

\u2018I have made my feelings clear that he is one of the best English strikers in this league,\u2019 said Farke. \u2018He also benefits a lot from the fact we are capable to prepare so many situations out of open play. Last game, we were pretty effective out of set-plays as well.<\/p>\n

\"Calvert-Lewin's <\/p>\n

Calvert-Lewin’s hot streak began with three goals in as many games in the space of eight days, all against ‘Big Six’ sides – starting at Manchester City\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"His <\/p>\n

His tap-in to an empty net rounded off a raucous 3-1 victory at home to Chelsea<\/p>\n

\"And <\/p>\n

And he kick-started the Leeds fightback when 2-0 down to champions Liverpool, in a hectic game that finished 3-3<\/p>\n

\u2018It’s always a team effort and it’s important that we keep going to bring him into good positions to assist further on, and then also up to him to keep going with the hard work. I’m a big believer that in the end, you will always get what you’re willing to invest.<\/p>\n

\u2018He has invested a lot so far, but he has to keep going. He is in great form. I spoke highly about him and we are blessed and fortunate that we have him. He has shown this during his career when he is fit. The season is not finished, he wants to score many more goals.\u2019<\/p>\n

If he continues on this trajectory, it will become difficult for Thomas Tuchel not to consider having him in his squad \u2013 Calvert-Lewin was Harry Kane\u2019s deputy at the Euros in 2021 \u2013 but it is always critical to add caution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Calvert-Lewin hasn\u2019t managed to get into double figures in a season since he got 25 in games for club and country in 2020-21. Farke is thrilled to see the ride he is currently enjoying but he isn\u2019t getting carried away \u2013 and his words should act as an incentive, in so many ways, to the 28-year-old.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018To label him a top-class player for Leeds, he doesn’t have to just show it for a couple of weeks,\u2019 said Farke \u2018He must show it over a whole season. Quality players must show consistency and play an outstanding season. We are all happy we have him with us \u2013 but he has to keep going.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best presents aren\u2019t just for Christmas, they are the ones that endure. It is up to Calvert-Lewin to prove he can do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It has been a giddy week for Leeds United fans and there is no disputing who has given…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":656862,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8814],"tags":[748,1925,92,1385,33761,393,11817,94,4884,1860,2922,101,6759,93,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-656861","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leeds","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-crystal-palace","10":"tag-dailymail","11":"tag-daniel-farke","12":"tag-dominic-calvert-lewin","13":"tag-england","14":"tag-everton","15":"tag-football","16":"tag-great-britain","17":"tag-leeds","18":"tag-leeds-united","19":"tag-premier-league","20":"tag-sean-dyche","21":"tag-sport","22":"tag-uk","23":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115788791138567327","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=656861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/656862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=656861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=656861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=656861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}