Chelsea’s young star, Nicolas Jackson, was injured during the Premier League match against West Ham United. T
he 23-year-old Senegalese striker’s injury was initially expected to be minor, but after medical scans, it was revealed to be more serious. So far this season, Jackson has contributed directly to 16 goals, with 9 goals and 5 assists, making him Chelsea’s second-top scorer after Cole Palmer.
With injuries to David Datro Fofana and Marc Guiu, Chelsea’s striker rotation has been significantly reduced. Enzo Maresca, the head coach, provided an update on the injuries:
“Nico [Jackson] will be out until the international break, probably available after the international break.”
“We knew it was a muscular problem, but not how important it was. His reaction was quite good, so we all thought it wasn’t a big injury. Unfortunately, he had the scan, and it is an important one – he will be out for around six to eight weeks.”
Jackson is expected to return to the team after 6 to 8 weeks, which could be a major issue for the Senegal national team.
Although they are currently second in their group behind Sudan, Jackson’s absence could create problems for them. It remains uncertain whether he will be fit in time for the qualifiers.
On March 17, Senegal will face Sudan, who are leading the group with 10 points. A potential loss here could demoralize Senegal. Senegal’s next international match will be against Togo.
Even if Jackson returns from injury, it seems unlikely that he will be in top form immediately.