Jackson celebrates after scoring a brace against West Ham United.
Image credit: Fabrizio Romano
Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has lavished praise on Nicolas Jackson after his stunning brace and assist in Chelsea’s 3-0 thrashing of West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Cahill, who won multiple titles with Chelsea, including the Champions League and Premier League, believes Jackson has the potential to become the Blues’ main striker.
“He’s a young boy, he’s still learning,” Cahill said while analyzing the London derby on NBC Sports. “I liked his game today for a number of reasons: his finishes and the two goals that he scored, of course, but I liked the way he was willing to run in behind, he was dropping deep at times to link up the play. I thought his all-round play was superb.”
Jackson’s performance was a response to critics, including former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who had questioned his goal-scoring abilities.
Cahill thinks Jackson has what it takes to silence his doubters and become Chelsea’s No. 9:
He looks a confident boy, so I don’t think that noise around him will bother him too much, and it’s all about doing his talking on the pitch. His numbers are looking good at the moment.
When asked if Chelsea should still actively seek a new striker, Cahill responded: “I think he’s more than capable of taking that No. 9 shirt and running with it. Staying fit and healthy is key, but going back to his numbers, he’s done superbly.”
Chelsea’s win marked their second consecutive victory, propelling them up to fourth in the Premier League table. Manager Enzo Maresca praised the team’s dominant display, highlighting Jackson’s performance alongside Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo.
Jackson capped off his impressive display with the Man of the Match award, further solidifying his case as Chelsea’s leading striker.
With Cahill’s endorsement and Jackson’s growing confidence, Chelsea fans will be eager to see if the young striker can continue his impressive form.
Next up for Chelsea is a Carabao Cup challenge against Barrow on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, followed by a Premier League clash against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, September 28, 2024.