Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson has sustained a significant ankle injury during his participation in a World Cup qualifying match for Senegal. The incident occurred in the final moments of Senegal’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday. Jackson, aged 22, had to be taken off the field as a result of this injury.
The medical team for the Senegalese national squad has since confirmed that Jackson will not be able to take part in their next World Cup qualifying match against Mauritania, scheduled for Sunday evening. The assessment revealed that Jackson suffered a right ankle injury. MRI scans indicated that he has incurred a severe sprain, necessitating his immediate withdrawal from the squad.
This unfortunate injury means that Jackson will need to undergo a period of rest and rehabilitation. He is expected to rejoin Chelsea’s pre-season training in July. The club, currently managed by Enzo Maresca, is preparing for a tour in the United States, with their first match set against Wrexham in California on July 24. Following this, Chelsea’s pre-season schedule includes fixtures against Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
During his inaugural season with Chelsea, Jackson made a notable impact by scoring 17 goals across all competitions. Despite his impressive goal tally, he faced criticism regarding his inconsistency on the field. Nevertheless, his contributions have been recognized, and his potential is highly regarded by many.
Chelsea’s pre-season fixtures for 2024 are as follows:
– Chelsea vs. Wrexham on July 24 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
– Chelsea vs. Celtic on July 27 at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
– Chelsea vs. Club America on July 31 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
– Chelsea vs. Manchester City on August 3 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
– Chelsea vs. Real Madrid on August 6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Nicolas Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal last summer for a transfer fee of £31.8 million. Since his arrival, he has been celebrated for his dynamic performances in the Premier League. Despite some criticism, particularly concerning his consistency, Jackson has received praise for his potential and overall contributions to the team. Notably, Gary Neville expressed his admiration for Jackson on Sky Sports’ The Gary Neville Podcast in April.
Neville remarked, “I genuinely like Nicolas Jackson; it might be a controversial stance, but I like him. I believe he has a lot to offer as a young player. He didn’t cost a lot of money, and despite this being his first full season in the Premier League, he’s scored many goals and continues to improve. There’s a lot to appreciate about his play.”
Further elaborating, Neville noted that while Jackson might not be Chelsea’s primary striker, he holds significant value as a strong second or third choice in a squad of 18 to 20 players. Reflecting on Chelsea’s performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Neville suggested that the team’s lack of a more consistent finisher than Jackson might have cost them the game. He advised that this is an area where Chelsea’s owners should focus their attention.
Despite the setback of his recent injury, Nicolas Jackson’s performances have left a considerable mark since his arrival at Chelsea. The upcoming period of recovery will be critical for ensuring his readiness for the pre-season and the highly anticipated matches against prominent clubs in the United States. His return to form will be vital for Chelsea as they aim to make an impact in the upcoming season.