Former Everton and Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has revealed the difference he’s noticed between Nicolas Jackson this season and last season.
Jackson had an impressive debut campaign after joining from Spanish side Villarreal last summer in a deal worth £32m.
The 23-year-old scored 17 goals in all competitions, with 14 of those coming in the Premier League and also impressed with his all round play.
Townsend shares thoughts on Jackson
A lot was made of Chelsea’s failure to sign a striker this summer after pursuing Victor Osimhen for most of the window, but Jackson’s start to the season is showing perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing to miss out.
The Senegal international has scored four goals and provided two assists in his first give Premier League games and put in a man of the match performance against West Ham with two well taken goals.
Jackson was criticised for the amount of chances he missed last season, but on early evidence it looks like there are signs his finishing is improving.
Townsend believes Jackson has the quality to turn into a clinical striker and feels we may see that happen this season.
“Even last season watching Nicolas Jackson, he had everything but the goals,” he told BBC Sport.
“He had the movement, he had the dribbling, he was getting into some great positions but he just wasn’t finishing them off.
“But, the goals he scored on the weekend were taken competently and confidently like an expert striker.
“We weren’t seeing that last season so maybe the early goals have done him the world of good and now we’re going to see this player who is going to be clinical when he gets chances in front of goal.”
Jackson is unlikely to feature in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Barrow and he will be looking to add to his goal tally when Brighton visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
