Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 'dirty stuff' adds value in Leeds United lean times, says Daniel Farke
Daniel Farke says Dominic Calvert-Lewin does enough "dirty stuff" to make up for dry spells in front of goal.
For Leeds to take the next step, more firepower will be needed next season but considering he joined on a free transfer when discarded by Everton last summer, the centre-forward has had an excellent first season back in his native Yorkshire.
Testament to that is his appearance record after some injury-dogged years at Goodison Park, and a first England cap since 2021.
But since reaching double-figure goals for the campaign in early February, they have been harder to come by.
Yet as before his glut of eight goals in nine games between late November and early January, the targetman is contributing plenty to the team’s overall play.
"He's always invited to score more, also in open play," said manager Farke, whose side host managerless Burnley on Friday.
"There were of course a few games where it was difficult for him. When I think about the away game at Crystal Palace, he missed big chances in the first half (one of them a penalty).
"But then if you play an underload in the second half, it's not that easy to score because we couldn't create even more.
"Once we had a lead at Man United (this month), he played a major role to bring it over the line with goalline clearances.
"I'm pretty happy with his performances and what he contributes.
"But yes, there were a few games when he missed a few chances and there's always some room for improvement.
"We had it in the beginning of the season when everyone was very critical because he needed a little bit for his first goal in open play. Then everyone was more or less over the moon when he had this historical run with back-to-back-to-back-to-back games.
"Sometimes you have the spirit in the season as a striker that you just have to watch the ball and the ball goes in. Sometimes you miss even a few sitters.
"The solution is always don't just think about ‘I need to score, I need to score, I need to score.’
"I was a striker, concentrate on work for the team, work hard for the team, be a good team-mate.
"Make the basic stuff, make the dirty stuff for the team. Don't think too much about the goals because they will come.
"He's done this during his whole career, his whole life, to score goals. Like a bottle of ketchup, it comes out more or less all of a sudden, all together."