A solitary goal in his opening ten Premier League outings this campaign had many doubting whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin's peak were in the past.
Yet, a just four weeks later, he is the most talked-about attacker in England after netting seven goals in six consecutive games.
His latest goal, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, brought his season's haul to eight, seeing him become the leading English scorer in the Premier League this term.
The 28-year-old joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, after a nine-year spell with Everton that was hampered by fitness issues in its latter stages.
But, the statistics behind his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 formation are genuinely notable.
His six-game scoring sequence places him in exclusive company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more straight Premier League fixtures.
To frame that statistic, even England captain Harry Kane was unable to produce a run lasting this many games - his longest is two individual five-match streaks.
And the only English striker to outdo Calvert-Lewin in recent years is Jamie Vardy, who went on an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019.
What has made Calvert-Lewin so difficult to stop in recent weeks? A recent opponent's manager described it aptly.
"He has the impeccable timing," the manager stated. "He's smart and a really good striker and he found the timing to arrive exactly when needed."
That instinct and positional sense inside the penalty area was what made him a popular figure at his previous club.
Analysts highlight the tactical shift to a 3-5-2 as a significant factor, enabling a greater number of players to get into the box and occupy defenders, which has given the striker a little more space.
"He is a archetypal centre-forward," commented a former professional. "For the goal... it was a lovely little flick beyond the keeper, a classic centre-forward's goal."
"I've endured a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A test of character and I've persisted and kept going... I've had faith and this is the result."
His manager has shown no surprise at this rich vein of form, stating again that the player is "a top strikers" in the competition.
Calvert-Lewin's return to form has naturally fueled conversations of an England recall.
The ex- Sheffield United player has eleven England caps, netting four goals, but has not represented the country since the last European Championship.
Pundits feel the striker will be in the mix for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this form.
"He looks as in shape as he has in a while," one commented. "If he maintains this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place."
However, the battle for places behind Harry Kane is intense.
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, fresh off a decisive two goals against Chelsea, is right now considered to be leading in the pecking order, according to some assessment.
"If you compare the two players, Watkins possesses the edge in terms of using his speed to get behind teams," it was said.
"He also holds the edge when it comes to making a meaningful impact at a big competition."
Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin is part of the squad could hinge on how many out-and-out strikers the head coach decides to select.
"I think it might hinge on whether the manager takes two or three centre-forwards," an analyst concluded. "If it is three, he absolutely has a chance."
Elena Vance is a digital strategist with over a decade of experience in UK business consulting, specializing in technology-driven growth solutions.