Dominic Calvert-Lewin is confident that his role as Harry Kane’s England backup could assist him in realizing his aspiration of participating in the World Cup this summer.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to announce his latest squad on Friday, with Calvert-Lewin among the forwards vying for a spot after netting 10 goals for Leeds United this season.
The 28-year-old shares the title of the highest-scoring English player in the Premier League this season with Danny Welbeck.
Calvert-Lewin’s most recent appearance for England, which marks his 11th cap, was in July 2021 when the team triumphed over Ukraine 4-0 in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020—postponed by a year due to Covid-19—during their journey to a final loss against Italy.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN’s ‘The Football Reporters’ podcast, Calvert-Lewin discussed the challenge of serving as a deputy to Kane, who holds the record as England’s all-time leading goalscorer and is in remarkable form for Bayern Munich, having scored 48 goals in 43 matches this season thus far.
“You have to be realistic,” Calvert-Lewin stated. “He [Kane] is among the best centre-forwards, if not the best centre-forward globally; he is currently prolific and serves as England’s captain.
“Therefore, unseating him from that role is an exceptionally difficult challenge. You could say I’ve been his understudy before during the 2021 Euros, so I have experienced what that entails.
“You need to be mentally resilient and prepared at all times, ready to step in if called upon. I was a bit younger back then, and there were challenging moments during that tournament when I felt I could have been utilized or was eager to play to make an impact.
“That didn’t occur as frequently as I would have preferred, but now, looking back, I recognize the importance of appreciating the situation at hand. With my current experience, I understand the role I am competing for. I am aware of what it entails and accept that.”
Calvert-Lewin acknowledged that he has not yet conversed with Tuchel but is aiming for a successful conclusion to the season with Leeds, who currently sit 15th in the league, three points clear of the relegation zone.
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“It’s challenging to focus on the World Cup when my immediate priority is ensuring Leeds remains in the Premier League,” he remarked.
“That was my primary goal at the beginning of the season. I understand that representing my country is a result of good performance and scoring goals. That is essential to achieving our objectives at the club level.
“Naturally, it is a dream, and it has been since childhood to participate in a World Cup, as it is for any young footballer. I am no exception. My main focus is to perform my best for Leeds, continue scoring goals, and winning matches, ensuring we remain a Premier League team next season, and if that secures me a place in the World Cup squad, it would be an added benefit.
“I haven’t had a discussion with the manager [Tuchel], but I don’t feel that it is necessary. If he needs to talk to me, he will, and that would indicate I am performing well on the pitch.”
