Nicolas Jackson has now overtaken Chelsea title-winner after goal vs Leicester

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Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring for Chelsea in their Premier League encounter with Leicester City earlier.

After some poor defending from Wout Faes, Nicolas Jackson managed to find the back of the net in the 15th minute to put Chelsea 1-0 up.

It was the striker’s seventh goal in the Premier League this season, and it was a well-taken one.

Enzo Maresca has been working closely with Jackson, and the work that he has been doing with him is clearly paying off.

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Nicolas Jackson overtakes Hernan Crespo

Jackson’s goal against Leicester was his 21st in the Premier League since joining Chelsea from Villarreal last year.

It saw him overtake Hernan Crespo, who scored 20 goals in the English top flight and won the title during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Last season, Jackson netted 14 times in the Premier League so should surpass that tally this term.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand recently defended Jackson, claiming that he has been unfairly criticised at times.

What have critics said about Nicolas Jackson?

Despite performing exceptionally well this season, another United legend, Gary Neville, thinks Chelsea need to upgrade on Jackson if they want to win the Premier League.

“I just think if they had a world-class striker in front of him, he was, say, the second striker, that would more align with the team that could go on and potentially win the title in a few years’ time and catch Liverpool up,” Neville said about Chelsea’s future title chances last month.

Right now, Maresca and Chelsea can be satisfied with Jackson. Their ultimate goal this season will be qualifying for the Champions League and the 23-year-old is helping the team to remain in contention for a top-four finish.

If Jackson can continue developing and become even more prolific, he may be able to help the Blues to challenge for the Premier League crown in the near future.

Of course, Chelsea may be tempted to sign someone like Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres next summer. The Swede has been in phenomenal form this term, scoring 24 goals in just 19 appearances. It is up to Jackson to prove that the club do not need him or another elite striker.