Sometimes, the best stories in football are written in the split seconds that others miss. When Ao Tanaka's shot was parried into the warm Elland Road air by a sprawling Martin Dubravka last Friday night, one player in the penalty area had his eyes wide open, more alert than anyone else.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's leap seemed to hang in the air for an age, his outstretched boot dangling before clipping the ball into the Burnley net. It was Leeds' third goal of the night, and the Englishman's 13th of the season—a tally that matches his combined total from his previous three campaigns at Everton.

So, what's behind this remarkable resurgence? The answer starts with fitness. Calvert-Lewin has missed just three games this year, his fewest absences in five seasons. It's a testament to Leeds' medical team, who have helped the Whites squad miss the fewest games in the Premier League this season (77). For context, Tottenham have missed the most with 363.

But fitness alone doesn't tell the full story. Five months ago, Calvert-Lewin called Leeds "a breath of fresh air." In March, he credited the club for his return to the England squad. And after the Burnley game, he praised manager Daniel Farke, saying: "He has certainly helped get the best out of me this season and filled me with confidence."

Brought in on a free transfer last summer, Calvert-Lewin was part of a trio of attackers—alongside Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor—who arrived with worrying injury records. Yet his improvised finish last Friday might have come off the boot of a free transfer, but if it keeps Leeds in the Premier League, it will be a golden touch worth over £100 million.

From his hold-up play to his goals and goal-line clearances, Calvert-Lewin has been nothing short of a revelation for Leeds this season. And with the club now almost mathematically safe, his impact is impossible to overstate.