While international involvement for individuals is very much a secondary concern when it comes to the Whites’ survival bid, there were numerous benefits to a pair of national team announcements this week. Midfielder Anton Stach and centre forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin brought to an end their four- and five-year respective international exiles, earning places in the Germany and England squads for March.
In the case of Stach, it was a genuine surprise. The player himself admitted to the YEP that his reaction to a phone call from Julian Nagelsmann was the word ‘what? ‘Nagelsmann’s recent comments about Stach not being ‘elite’ in certain areas – areas in which the player has actually shone for Leeds in the Premier League – had cast doubt about his return to the Germany fold. But there was his name when the squad for friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana was announced.
For Calvert-Lewin, there has been much talk since his December hot streak, but it was only on Friday morning, shortly before the official announcement, that the Leeds man’s return to the England setup was made known. His situation is somewhat different to Stach’s because Thomas Tuchel has deliberately chosen him and Dom Solanke of Spurs for the initial part of the March camp and the Uruguay friendly to learn about their abilities. Harry Kane will not join up with England until the second part of the camp, to prepare for the Japan game. But like Stach, Calvert-Lewin is at least in the picture as national team coaches make up their minds on their World Cup squads.
Both bits of news will have been celebrated at Thorp Arch, giving the dressing room an extra buzz and a lift. Both players will bounce into Saturday night’s Elland Road meeting with Brentford determined to show why they belong in the international scene as well as the Premier League. Both men will be worth more with international status restored. But there is another benefit for Leeds as a club that could be seen in months to come.
When Stach made the move to Leeds, it was partly motivated by his World Cup dream. Playing in the ‘best league in the world’ and proving himself able was an opportunity to ask a new question of the Germany boss, Nagelsmann. At 6 ft 4 in., he’s hard to ignore at the best of times, but banging in spectacular free kicks and becoming such an integral part of Daniel Farke’s squad has raised Stach’s profile like never before. Taking his ball-winning ability into the English top flight, where it has translated perfectly, and adding consistent chance creation to his contribution – thanks in part to playing further forward than he did at Hoffenheim – has earned him a chance to make his summer 2026 dream a reality. Moving to Leeds did that.
And for Calvert-Lewin, who was written off by so many – some Leeds fans and social media types included – when he made the free agent move to Elland Road last summer, his decision has paid off in the extreme. Ten goals in the Premier League and a call-up for England immediately prior to a World Cup are already heavy justification for putting his faith in the Leeds project. Should he help keep Leeds in the Premier League and then make it into Tuchel’s flight list for a major tournament, Calvert-Lewin will be in dreamland. And moving to Leeds will have done that.
So when it comes time to pitch projects again in the summer, in a scenario where Leeds recruitment chiefs are attempting to upgrade the squad for a second season in the Premier League, they have two new arguments to put forward. Look what we did for Stach and Calvert-Lewin. Look what we could do for you.
It wasn’t that long ago that leaving Leeds was seen as the best route to international redemption. Robin Koch took that route, though he was not named alongside Stach in this week’s announcement from Germany. It was doubtless in the minds of many others who sought to escape Elland Road in the wake of relegation. And it should be noted that Willy Gnonto’s international career at the senior level has stalled of late. His lack of game time at Leeds will hardly have done him any favours when it comes to Italy’s play-off squad and the upcoming World Cup. But for players considering Leeds this summer, it is the stories of Stach and Calvert-Lewin that the recruitment chiefs will trot out among the other obvious benefits of making Elland Road your home.
