Tony Cascarino urges Enzo Maresca to use £29m Chelsea star up front after the international break

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This season so far, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been using Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku up front.

They have both done good jobs there for Chelsea, with the former scoring four goals and the latter seven in all competitions.

However, Tony Cascarino would like to see Enzo Maresca use another Chelsea player as a centre-forward if Jackson gets injured, for example.

Jackson did not impress the Senegalese media with his performance against Malawi on Friday despite scoring.

• READ MORE: Gary Lineker reacts to Noni Madueke’s England performance vs Greece

Tony Cascarino keen to see Enzo Maresca experiment with Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke has been one of Chelsea’s most dangerous players this season. In the six Premier League games that the winger has played, he has managed to score four goals.

Cascarino would now like to see Maresca try him up front, comparing the 22-year-old to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.

“I would love to see him play the centre-forward role,” Cascarino said on talkSPORT (12/10/2024 at 07:15). “I think give him a go because I see a centre-forward. I like him [Jackson], but I think if there’s an injury, I think Madueke.”

When asked if Madueke should be selected over Nkunku, the former Chelsea player said: “Yeah, I think because he has got more of a left-sided midfielder and sometimes a 10 role. I love the directness of Madueke. He wants to get behind defenders. He really gets the ball out of his feet quickly and looks to shoot.

“He looks like a centre-forward to me in the making. I saw Drogba at a very young age and he reminded me of Drogba. Look, is he as good in the air as Drogba was? No, he is not. Can he develop? Yes, he has got the physique. I think there is a lot of improvement in Madueke.”

Should Enzo Maresca use Noni Madueke up front?

This season, Jackson and Nkunku have been firing, while Madueke has been absolutely devastating on the wing.

Yes, Madueke has been effective in front of goal, but his overall wing play is really impressive. When it comes to beating full-backs one-v-one, the £29m England international is exceptional.

As per FBref, Madueke completes 2.79 successful take-ons per 90 minutes. Chelsea will just not be as dangerous out wide if the former PSV Eindhoven man is moved up front, while he could get isolated there and struggle to utilise his dribbling.

Ultimately, then, it is probably best for Maresca to keep Madueke on the right flank. The Chelsea manager has good options for the striker position at the moment, while the club could always buy a natural No.9 in January.

Victor Osimhen is still on Chelsea’s radar, though a move next summer looks more likely. The Nigerian is currently at Galatasaray on loan after his failed transfer to Stamford Bridge at the end of August.