A Leeds United attacker has made a big fitness declaration ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League visit of Aston Villa.

Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has issued a very positive personal fitness update and start assessment ahead of Sunday’s return to Premier League action at home to Aston Villa.

England-capped striker Calvert-Lewin joined Leeds as a free agent signing in the summer transfer window after ending nine years with Everton upon his contract expiring.

Calvert-Lewin signed for Leeds just three days before the club’s first game of their Premier League return at home to Everton and boss Daniel Farke warned that the striker might not be ready until after the next international break.

Calvert-Lewin, though, made his Whites debut just two weeks after signing as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw at home to Newcastle United, after which the striker started United’s next seven games.

The 28-year-old was then a doubt for United’s last game before the November international break at Nottingham Forest due to an adductor strain but the forward made the bench and eventually replaced Lukas Nmecha with 16 minutes left.

Leeds and Calvert-Lewin have since had another fortnight to prepare for United’s next game via Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa, ahead of which Calvert-Lewin says he is now “as fit as I can be” in United’s ongoing battle to survive their first season back in the country’s top flight.

“It's not the same as playing and training with the team”

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Calvert-Lewin was asked for his own assessment of the season so far and said: “I would say it's been a good start, could be better, can always be better being critical.

"But I think that I didn't have much time to really get into the swing of things, I signed four days before the season started.

"I tried my best to keep myself fit but it's not the same as playing and training with the team.

"Once I came in it was just about building fitness and I got that through training and playing games in the Premier League which is the most watched league in the world.

"I think as my fitness has grown, my output has increased and I feel probably physically I am at a level now where I am as fit as I can be so it's just about fine tuning the things on the pitch.

"As far as the club and the staff and the players go, it's been a joy to join and a joy to be involved in, a great group of lads and I've settled in really quickly."