The heat is ramping up in the kitchen for Nicolas Jackson despite Chelsea picking up all three points against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
It wasn’t an easy win because Chelsea made life very difficult for themselves, before being bailed out by a late winner and a penalty from Noni Madueke.
Mario Melchiot feels one player who is ‘making it hard for himself’ is Nicolas Jackson, after he failed to score yet again for Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Chelsea star is worried that the £32 million summer signing is in a situation where his teammates might no longer pass him the ball because they think they are better off shooting, as he told ESPN.
Nicolas Jackson played the entire game for Mauricio Pochettino’s side last night, with the returning Christopher Nkunku starting his first game in Chelsea colours, playing in behind and getting just over 70 minutes under his belt.
Given that Christopher Nkunku is now available, this will allow Mauricio Pochettino to bench Nicolas Jackson, or at the very least, provide him with a kick up the backside – Romeo Lavia also made his Chelsea debut against Palace.
Either way, from what Mario Melchiot is watching, he is starting to get worried about the 22-year-old.
Nicolas Jackson’s struggles for Chelsea
“Jackson is making it really tough,” said Melchiot. “I watched him and he is making it very, very hard for himself.
“The competition is there and Nkunku. I know Poch said it too ‘he needs time’. I know time is the really difficult part. But Nkunku. I like what he is doing and I hope he keeps progressing.
“But Jackson, I don’t know. I was never a striker. He has the speed and the power. But he doesn’t have the calmness in his head that I feel a proper striker needs. He’s not an old guy. He still has time. The only thing he needs to work on is the calmness.
“People are going to start thinking ‘shall I give to him or should I finish it myself?’ I don’t want him to be in that position because strikers never want to be in that position.”
Competition healthy for Nicolas Jackson
The return of Nkunku will do Jackson the world of good because it will ease the pressure on his shoulders, he will have a player he can link up with, plus it will provide him with the competition he needs.
Yes, Jackson’s performances haven’t been what the player himself or Chelsea fans have wanted.
But every single time they have had to turn back to him because there isn’t anyone to really take his place.
Well, now there is that added competition and it might just bring that edge out of his game which will help him go to the next level.
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