Chelsea in striker crisis as Nicolas Jackson dealt significant injury setback | OneFootball

Blues already without Marc Guiu as Enzo Maresca hit with fresh blow

Chelsea have been a dealt a major blow as striker Nicolas Jackson is expected to miss around a month of action.

The Senegal forward missed Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup, having been forced off during the Premier League win at home to West Ham earlier this month.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca initially suggested Jackson’s injury was not serious but scans have confirmed the 23-year-old has suffered a hamstring problem serious enough to sideline him until after the March international break.

Maresca has confirmed Guiu suffered a “bad” injury against West Ham, believed to be an abductor issue that could rule him out for “weeks or months”.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League table and have a battle on their hands to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Manchester City and Newcastle just two points behind them in fifth and sixth place respectively.

They will likely be without Jackson for games against Brighton, Aston Villa, Leicester, Southampton and Arsenal and Maresca has few other natural options at centre-forward.

Cole Palmer could be deployed as a striker and Christopher Nkunku is another name to consider, although neither have a huge amount of experience in that particular role for Chelsea.