Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Leeds United debut was thought to be one to forget, but despite his questionable spot kick, he did show signs of promise.
Leeds United lost out to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday evening in the opening round of the Carabao Cup.
Leeds looked like they could go out in normal time, when an error from goalkeeper Karl Darlow handed Wednesday the lead.
Jayden Bogle equalised for Leeds, but the game ran down to penalties as Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed numerous chances in front of goal, including his spot-kick.
Despite Calvert-Lewin failing to score, there were signs of promise.
Not all hope is lost for Dominic Calvert-Lewin
During Leeds’ match against Sheffield Wednesday, Calvert-Lewin did look like a player who desperately needed minutes.
Despite the frustrating outcome, the chances he created showed promising signs of his goal-scoring instinct and vision.
In the final moments of normal time, Calvert-Lewin had three clear goal-scoring opportunities. His first, from a deep free-kick, saw him miss a point-blank range chance, sending it just wide.
Minutes later, a low cross found him in a prime position, but his lack of match sharpness was evident as he failed to connect properly with the ball, which was smothered by the Wednesday keeper.
The third chance came from another well-placed cross, which he was in the right place to meet, but his effort was miscued.
The penalty miss, a strike that went high over the bar, was the final painful moment of a night where he looked like a player whose confidence and sharpness have been tainted by a long spell on the sidelines. His presence created danger; he just needs time to regain his killer touch.
Calvert-Lewin shared an honest message post-game, sharing his disappointment but hunger to improve and Leeds fans should take this as a good sign.
If there was ever a game to get all your bad shots out of the way, it was this one. With the main focus this season on avoiding relegation, a cup run is not a priority.
For Calvert-Lewin, this match was a low-stakes opportunity to rebuild his confidence and instinct in front of goal, and the fact that he was consistently in the right positions is the biggest takeaway.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s promising history
Calvert-Lewin’s time at Everton was a mix of brilliant highs and frustrating lows, with his best form coming during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
In those two campaigns, he scored 13 and 16 goals respectively in the Premier League, with his all-around game under manager Carlo Ancelotti earning him a reputation as a complete striker. He was a dominant presence in the box and a huge aerial threat.
Unfortunately, frequent injuries over the past few seasons have significantly hampered his progress and consistent form.
These setbacks meant he struggled to get a solid run of games and lost some of the goal-scoring rhythm that made him so deadly.
However, the raw talent that made him an England international is still very much there. The key for Leeds is to provide him with the consistent playing time he needs to shake off the rust and rebuild his confidence.
With the right support and a run of games, Calvert-Lewin can recapture the form that saw him become a top Premier League goalscorer and lead the line for Leeds with the same power and instinct he showed at his best at Everton.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
