Former England forward Les Ferdinand hasn’t ruled out Dominic Calvert-Lewin making Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad - but believes Ivan Toney is ahead of him in the pecking order.
As reported by the ECHO on Sunday afternoon, Calvert-Lewin is holding out hope of making England’s World Cup squad and putting the worst year of his career behind him. The forward was on target for the Blues against Crystal Palace at the weeknd.
After starting the move himself by winning possession from Palace’s Luka Milivojevic, Calvert-Lewin then collected Alex Iwobi’s pass and after a beautiful inside the box fired the ball through the legs of Vicente Guaita and into the Gwladys Street net to set the Blues on their way to a 3-0 win.
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Three Lions boss Southgate picked Toney in his England squad for the first time for last month’s Nations League double header with Italy and Germany but did not give him a minute of action. Toney has scored 13 times in all competitions so far this season and is one of the most inform forwards in the Premier League.
And even though Ferdinand believes Calvert-Lewin is the most natural No.9 England have after Harry Kane, he feels Toney is above the Everton star in the pecking order due to his current form.
“Probably Calvert-Lewin if he fits, if he is strong and he is playing on a regular basis,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think he offers that No.9 status that they would be looking for if Harry wasn’t able to play, but where it is right now, England is all about the form players. Who is in form? And Ivan Toney would have to be that player for me.”
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