The BBC led today with a long piece about Nicolas Jackson and his development after another impressive game at the weekend took him to a combined 6 goals and assists for the season.
They got the takes of a few different pundits, but we would have to say that controversial former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton had the most complete view of Jackson when he assessed his 13 months or so in West London.
“With all the mayhem going on at Chelsea last season I actually thought he came out with great credit. I think he was signed initially as a development player but he got enough game time – maybe due to [Christopher] Nkunku’s injury – and his goal tally was alright,” Sutton wrote in his piece for BBC Sport.
“I think that there are certainly parts of his game which he needs to improve. But, I think he’s a player with excellent movement in behind, he has that pace, it’s all about the timing of his runs and he stretches defences.”
Sutton spot on with striker analysis
We’d have to say, for all that we like to criticise Sutton for his often stupid (or just stupidly expressed) opinions, he’s got the measure of Jackson here. He’s spot on with the story of how Jackson ended up where he is now as our undisputed number one, and his take on the Senegalese’s game is accurate too.
We would object a little to the idea that the “timing of his runs” is one of Jackson’s strengths given how frustratingly often he’s caught offside. But certainly the runs he does make are good ones, and he doesn’t stop making them. So he’s only a couple of tweaks away from that part of his game being as strong as Sutton describes.
Here’s to another season of Nico learned and growing and continuing his development.