Alan Shearer has issued his verdict on the performance of Nicolas Jackson as the Chelsea striker bagged the winner in their 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have made it three wins on the bounce for the first time in the Premier League since January, with the Blues putting themselves in real contention to finish sixth.
Chelsea needed a late comeback to earn the three points, with Nicolas Jackson heading home from a brilliant Reece James cross to give the visitors the win at the City Ground.
Jackson has come in for a lot of criticism during his time at Chelsea, and it has appeared that he has suffered from Pochettino simply not having enough options up front to take him out of the firing line at times.
Alan Shearer reacts to Nicolas Jackson’s display in Chelsea win
But the 22-year-old has now scored 14 league goals for the Blues, with only 10 players across the entire division finding the back of the net more often.
And speaking on Match of the Day, Alan Shearer suggested that he is seeing some really positive signs, even if his hold-up play and decision-making could do with some improvement.
“There is no doubt about it. Today’s performance summed up his season. There were really good bits and some poor bits,” he said.
“He is definitely raw, but there is big potential there. He’s very good at that. He is good at running with the ball. His runs in behind are really intelligent. But little things like this, you know, making simple decisions when and how to pass that ball. Sometimes the easiest ones are the most difficult ones to do, you know. It’s that final thing where he has got to brush up on and get in behind.
“He’s 22 years of age, 29 starts, 14 goals and I think that is a decent return. It has been a little unfair on him, at times because he needed to be left out, but he couldn’t because of a lack of numbers in that squad. He will learn, he will get better and they will bring someone in, I am sure.
“They do need another nine because he’s not ready to be a regular there. He has had to put up with that this season, that’s why we are picking little bits from him that his game can improve on. But another number 9 in there and a big name that he can work alongside and work with, he will get better, I am sure of it.”
Blues must take pressure off youngster this summer
You would imagine that Jackson himself will admit that he has not had the best first season at Chelsea, with the Blues clearly a major work in progress.
But this has already been the most prolific season of Jackson’s career to date, with the youngster finding the back of the net 17 times in all competitions.
If Chelsea can sign another striker to take the pressure off Jackson next season, that may help the £30 million attacker take his game to that next level.