Nicolas Jackson surprisingly joined Chelsea last summer from Villareal in a deal worth £32m.
The Senegal international was moments away from joining Bournemouth in January 2022 before an issue was flagged in the medical and the deal collapsed.
Bournemouth’s loss is very much Chelsea’s gain, the 22 year old has provided nine goals and three assists across 27 appearances in all competitions this season.
Whilst Jackson is still clearly very rough round the edges, particularly when it comes to his finishing other aspects of his game are brilliant in particular his link up and hold up play, movement and he works hard to provide a target when playing out.
When he left for the African Cup of Nations in January you could see exactly what he brings to the Chelsea attack and what was missing when he wasn’t there.
Jackson perhaps had his best game in a Chelsea shirt against City and played the lone centre forward role exceptionally, constantly causing problems by drifting into wide areas and on several occasions his link up play was outstanding none more so than for Sterling’s goal where his initial one two with Cole Palmer and brilliant pass set up Chelsea’s opener.
Despite missing a huge chance at The Etihad it is clear that he brings so much to this team with his all round play and Sunday represents a huge opportunity for the forward to help Chelsea win a first domestic trophy since 2018.
If Chelsea are to have any chance of beating Liverpool then Jackson will need to be in the starting eleven.
Couldn’t agree more. And as for Jackson’s “miss” against City, the ball is played late and behind him and this all but eliminates his ability to try and take his shot first time. If the ball is played earlier (as was his assist to Sterling) then he’s in a much better position to take a touch well out from goal and then bury it past Ederson with his second.