Tim Sherwood has claimed that Chelsea is struggling without Nicolas Jackson and that he is irreplaceable even though he is not a productive goal scorer. Sherwood pointed out that the Senegalese striker creates space for players such as Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.
In conversation with Metro, the former Tottenham star insisted that the absence of Jackson is a huge blow to Chelsea and that Enzo Maresca should find a way to succeed without the former Villarreal man. Sherwood said:
“I think Nicolas Jackson is certainly not respected. I think he is the center and a real presence above it. He occupies the center halves and takes them back to create space for people like Colmer. Palmer, in particular the space that Jackson created him. Enzo. And so. And. [Fernandez] also. I think Enzo is a better no. 10 than a no. 8 and if he is progressing, he is a real target threat. But they need someone who will lead the line and occupy the center halves and create space for them. “
He added:
“He has been a huge miss. He is not a productive goal scorer, but he is certainly a threat and they can’t replace him. They have no one like him to come in – they have tried it with [Christopher] Nunku or plays with Pedro Neto as a false nine, but it didn’t work. Sometimes as a manager you have to find a different way. I just think they are a bit predictable on the ball, play sideways and play back, but perhaps there are not the options ahead when the midfield players look up. Jackson would normally extend the opposition behind him or they could play in his chest longer and keep him up the ball. They didn’t have that in his absence, so he has been a huge miss. “
Jackson scored nine goals and helped five times in 23 Premier League matches this season. Chelsea went from the second to fourth to fourth place in the table and was even in sixth place last month. Unbelievable, the blues were only two points behind Liverpool already in December, but are now 21 points on the drift of the leaders.
Nicolas Jackson expected to return to Chelsea after the international break
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Nicolas Jackson could be back for Chelsea after the international break. He revealed that the striker, who was injured in the match against West Ham United (3 February), is currently in light training and has recovered from his hamstring problem. Noni Madueke is also expected to be back in action after the break. Maresca said (via 90min):
“He could be back, probably after the international break. He and Noni too.”
“This is good news. Before the international break we have two games – tomorrow and Sunday – and then we have international break, we can recover energy, repair players and then go for the last time [bit of the season]. “
Chelsea will face Tottenham on 3 April, followed by Brentford later in the week (April 6). The blues have only removed one match from London in April – the first stage of their Conference League quartery against Legia Warszawa (April 10).
Published by Nihal