Enzo Maresca has praised Nicolas Jackson for his form this season and stated the striker is doing a brilliant job for the team.
Jackson is now in his second season at Stamford Bridge having joined in a deal worth £32m from Spanish side Villarreal in the summer of 2023.
The 23-year-old had a good first season scoring 17 goals in all competitions, 14 of which came in the Premier League and he was rewarded with a two year contract extension keeping him at the club until 2033.
Maresca full of praise of Jackson
A lot was made of Chelsea’s failure to sign a striker in the summer, but Jackson’s start to the season has shown that might not have been a bad thing.
The Senegal international has five goals and three assists in eight Premier League games this season, with Daniel Sturridge describing him as pivotal to Chelsea’s system.
Jackson is keeping Christopher Nkunku out of the team at the moment, but despite his good start Gary Neville still believes the Blues need to sign a top quality centre forward if they are to challenge for the title.
The Senegalese was left at home for Thursday’s game against Panathinaikos in the Conference League so will be fresh for Sunday’s game against Newcastle.
Speaking ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge, Maresca was full of praise for Jackson and admitted he was doing a fantastic job.
“He’s very important for us,” Maresca told reporters as cited on X.com.
“On the ball he’s working fantastic, scoring, assist, linking with team-mates. Off the ball he’s working hard, pressing in the way we want to press. Doing fantastic with us.”
Jackson is well on his way to beating last season’s tally of 14 goals in the Premier League and the early evidence of this season has shown his finishing has certainly improved.
If Jackson stays fit and continues to improve his finishing, there’s no reason why he can’t score 20 goals in the league this season given the amount of chances Chelsea create.
