Paul Merson has now claimed that Chelsea have got a rough diamond of a player in their ranks in the form of Nicolas Jackson.
He told Sky Sports that there is still a lot to work on with the striker despite him finding a hat-trick on Monday against Tottenham.
Until the 75th minute, it had been an extremely difficult night for Jackson in North London.
Fast forward to the final minutes though, and he had a hat-trick to his name, while he also skied another glorious chance at the end.
Spurs self imploded on Monday, but credit has to be given to Chelsea, and therefore Jackson, for what they did against the only unbeaten side in the league up until then.
Merson praised the persistence of the striker, however pointed out there is a way to go in defining his game.
Merson praises Jackson
He said: “Nicolas Jackson could have scored seven! If he had shooting boots on they’d have given another match ball to him. But what I like about him is he keeps on getting in the positions to score. That takes a lot of guts.
“Believe it or not, those are the hard ones he scored where the ball comes across and everyone thinks they’re easy. He kept on breaking his neck to get into the box. Fair play to him.
“He’s a rough diamond. He gets his hat-trick and then he balloons one over the bar in the final minute. Anyone else would have taken a touch and then finished it or rolled it to Cole Palmer to score. There’s still a lot to work on.
“But you’re better off being a forward that comes off the pitch with a hat-trick having missed a couple than not looking like scoring in a month of Sundays. That’s when you worry.”
It is likely that Jackson will be handed the start for Sunday’s huge Premier League against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
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