Martin Keown really enjoyed one bit of play from Nicolas Jackson in Chelsea’s FA Cup game against Leicester City earlier.
It was Nicolas Jackson who set up Marc Cucurella’s goal, which put Chelsea 1-0 up on the afternoon.
The striker used his pace to beat Jannik Vestergaard before passing the ball to Cucurella and Keown, who was commentating on the game for BBC One (17/03/2024 at 12:59) was impressed with how he used his speed.
Jackson has been really effective in the final third of late. In Chelsea’s last two Premier League matches against Newcastle United and Brentford, the 22-year-old scored two goals.
It has been claimed that Jackson has changed his sleep routine and diet to help his performances.
Martin Keown impressed with Nicolas Jackson’s pace
Keown praised Jackson for how he utilised his speed against Leicester.
Following Cucurella’s goal, the Arsenal legend said: “Well he made that look so easy. And often of course, it’s not just about the pace, it’s about how you use it. The change of pace from Jackson.”
Nicolas Jackson a difficult opponent
Jackson is not the best finisher in England, with the player himself admitting that he should have scored more goals by this point of the season.
Nevertheless, the Senegal international, who cost Chelsea £32m when they signed him from Villarreal last summer, is still proving to be a handful for defenders because of his pace and dribbling.
If Jackson could just improve his finishing, then Mauricio Pochettino could have an incredible centre-forward on his hands.
At 22, the former Villarreal man has time to refine that area of his game, though it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will afford him that. Eleventh in the Premier League table right now, the club know they need to do much better next season, which may mean dipping into the transfer market and buying a new centre-forward.
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