Thomas Tuchel told to pick 11-cap striker who hasn’t played since 2021 as Harry Kane World Cup back-up

England are short of back-up options for Harry Kane, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has ‘every chance’ of being the man to deputise.

That’s according to former Three Lions boss Sam Allardyce, who has backed the Leeds striker to earn a spot in Thomas Tuchel‘s World Cup squad after he took his season’s tally to 10 goals on Friday night.

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Calvert-Lewin bagged the third goal as the Whites claimed a huge 3-1 win over relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.

After Jayden Bogle and Noah Okafor put the hosts 2-0 up inside 30 minutes, the Englishman sealed the points with an improvised chested effort early in the second half.

This was Calvert-Lewin’s ninth goal in 13 games, as he kept up his stunning career revival after joining Leeds in the summer.

Having left Everton as a free agent, the 28-year-old is now the joint-fourth highest scorer in the Premier League, behind Antoine Semenyo, Igor Thiago and Erling Haaland.

Currently the highest-scoring Englishman in the top-flight, his form has led to calls for Tuchel to name him in his World Cup squad.

While Kane and Ollie Watkins look certain to be on the plane, another back-up spot seems to be up for grabs, and Calvert-Lewin is currently leading the race.

Allardyce: Fit DCL goes to World Cup

Allardyce, who managed Calvert-Lewin at Everton in the 2017/18 season, has tipped the striker to make a return to the Three Lions set-up in time for the World Cup, nearly five years after his last cap.

Asked if he would pick the Leeds star, Allardyce told talkSPORT: “If he stays fit from now until the end of the season [I would].

Discussing his World Cup chances, Allardyce praised Calvert-Lewin for overcoming the injury issues that have hampered his career.

After back-to-back double figure seasons at Everton between 2019 and 2021, which saw him regularly called up by England, persistent muscle issues have seen him struggle for form and game time.

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He scored just 13 goals in his final three seasons at Everton, but Allardyce praised him for finding consistency at Leeds.

He continued: “It’s taken him leaving Everton to resurrect his career – the amount of injuries that he had at Everton after hitting the heights. 

“I had him when he was 19 and he was particularly good at holding the ball up and joining into play. Unfortunately it was his goal scoring ratio that wasn’t high enough.

“That changed under Carlo [Ancelotti], then unfortunately the injury [happened]. 

“Now he’s got his goal knack back and I think that if he stays fit from now to the end of the season, there’s not a lot of options for England. 

“So he’s got every chance of being in the squad.”

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‘Thomas has got a big call’

Allardyce wasn’t the only man backing Calvert-Lewin’s World Cup cause, with former Manchester United and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves also tipping him to make it onto the plane.

With Brighton’s Danny Welbeck also earning calls to sneak into Tuchel’s squad, Hargreaves claimed the Leeds striker has the best all-round game of any back-up options to Kane.

Speaking on TNT Sports on Saturday, he said of Calvert-Lewin: “I think he will probably go, if he stays fit.

“I think he’s the most versatile – he can drop off and play a bit like Harry [Kane.] Physically, [in terms of] size, technically I think he’s great.

“But obviously it depends on fitness. Danny Welbeck’s had a brilliant season, obviously Ollie Watkins [is an option].

“Calvert-Lewin –  it’s great to see him fit and healthy. Thomas [Tuchel] has got a big call.”