Chelsea Injury Update: Nicolas Jackson latest details, recovery timeline

Chelsea have been dealt another big injury blow at a moment where it is looking like they are slipping further and further from their early season promise. Enzo Maresca’s side were dealt another massive problem recently as they lost striker Nicolas Jackson to injury. The Senegalese forward suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win over West Ham and it is expected that he will miss action for some time.

The injury suffered is expected to affect further plans for the Blues. On that note, read below and get a detailed overview of how the forward faced the injury, the freshest update on the situation, the impact of the blow on the club, his possible replacements, and his return to action date.

Nicolas Jackson Injury Update

Nicolas Jackson started the season in fantastic form and it looked like he was finally delivering on the promise and becoming a top-tier Premier League striker. He has scored 9 goals and assisted a further 5 goals. But over the last couple of months, his finishing has once again left a lot to be desired. As this has coincided with a period of Chelsea slipping down the table, he has come under so much criticism.

However, that being said his injury is terrible news for Chelsea as they lack the options to replace him properly. His contribution towards the team’s cause is also hard to find among forwards.

Impact of Nicolas Jackson Injury on Chelsea’s Squad and Strategy

“Nico will be out until the international break, probably available after,” Maresca said on Thursday.” We knew that it was a muscular probably but we didn’t know how important [bad] it was because his feeling, his reaction, was quite good.”

“We all thought that was not a big injury but unfortunately he had a scan a few days ago, it is an important one and it will be around six to eight weeks.”

He continued, “Sometimes we complain about players but then when they don’t play, we realize how important they are for the team,” Maresca said. “So every press conference you ask me about Nico, every press conference I said that he is an important player, he is doing fantastic on the ball and off the ball. Then he didn’t play against Brighton and everyone was thinking it is difficult to play without a nine. But we know exactly how good Nico is on the ball and off the player.”

Possible Replacements and Tactical Adjustments

With Jackson’s injury, Chelsea now have a big problem. For all his flaws, the 23-year-old has been crucial to how Maresca has wanted his Chelsea side to play. The only like-for-like replacement is young Marc Guiu but he too got injured in the same game and will miss action for some time too. The other option is Christopher Nkunku, who is a very different type of striker and hasn’t quite nailed down a starting berth under Maresca.

He was heavily linked with a move away but that didn’t happen. Another interesting option would be playing Cole Palmer as a false 9 or using a makeshift option like Noni Madueke.