Gordon Strachan's Warning for Leeds on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Gordon Strachan has warned that Leeds must protect Dominic Calvert-Lewin from being battered into the ground – physically and mentally – if they want to keep getting the best out of their leading striker.

The title-winning Elland Road hero, speaking to GOAL in association with Grosvenor Sport, drew on what he sees from the Premier League’s most ruthless No.9s as a blueprint for how Leeds should handle their man.

“He is constantly getting knocked down, thrashed at, knocked about. It's non-stop for Calvert-Lewin,” Strachan said, painting a picture of a centre-forward living in permanent collision.

Strachan had a close-up view at the weekend and came away impressed, and a little concerned.

“I was at the game on Sunday, and what a good point that was for Leeds because Brentford are a top side, by the way. I mean a top side,” he stressed. “You're talking about a rounded team, that is them. Their three midfield players, I couldn't tell you who was the best. They're three forwards, I couldn't tell you who was the best. I just know they're all good.

“Three midfield players were excellent. The three forwards, with the wide men – I call wide attackers – they're more rounded. They're more of a team than Man United at the moment, that's for sure.”

Leeds had to scrap for that draw, and at the heart of the fight was Calvert-Lewin, absorbing punishment from Brentford’s imposing centre-backs. That, Strachan says, is where the alarm bells ring.

“Going back to Calvert-Lewin, yes, I worry about the actual contact he's taking all the time – not just the physical, but the mental side,” he admitted.

For Strachan, the solution is tactical as much as medical. Calvert-Lewin needs help, and not just in the treatment room.

“Calvert-Lewin needs to get somebody up beside him, that's playing number 10, or a midfield player getting there,” he explained. “So for the rest of the team, there is a drop-off area round about Calvert-Lewin, not just Calvert-Lewin. So if there's somebody else round about him, don’t care who it is who gets up there, it takes away 50% of the knocks that Calvert-Lewin's getting.”

Strachan pointed to Erling Haaland’s game as the model. The Manchester City striker rarely engages in needless battles outside the box, instead letting others absorb the rough stuff.

“And if you actually keep him away from the game like Haaland, if you get people up there, you keep him away from the game like Haaland, because that's what he does – he stays away from the game, he lets the people in front of him take the knocks, take the ball, and that's why he's always in the box.”

Right now, Strachan believes Calvert-Lewin is doing too much of the dirty work and paying the price.

“So I just worry that Calvert-Lewin, he's taking everything on board, and it's very hard for him to get in the box,” he said. “So I think that's why his performance on Sunday was excellent, because in the first half, I was right in front of it, and I see him getting crashed into by two wonderful centre-halves, big centre-halves, taking knocks, trying to keep it in. And then he still managed to score a goal, which is quite phenomenal.”

The goal underlined his value. The bruises underlined the risk.

Strachan would happily double up on that profile of striker – but knows the reality of the market.

“So I would agree, I think if you can get another Calvert-Lewin, do so. But where do you get another Calvert-Lewin that’s not going to cost you £40-50 million, for that type of striker?” he asked.

It leaves Leeds with a clear challenge: find a way to share the load around their main man, or accept that every point he wins might come at a heavy cost.