Hasselbaink highlights where £32m Chelsea star can improve after stuttering start
Former Chelsea man Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has highlighted where he thinks new signing Nicolas Jackson can look to improve.
Chelsea have shown some signs of promise in their opening two matches, but they ultimately only have one point to show for it.
Goals were the main issue for Chelsea last season and the responsibility to hit the back of the net on a regular basis now falls upon Jackson’s shoulders.
Following his £32m move from Villarreal, the forward has shown some early signs of quality, but he is yet to hit the back of the net.
Hasselbaink thinks that Jackson should have taken the penalty against West Ham, which Enzo Fernandez ended up squandering.
“Nkunku being out [means] there’s a lot of creativity missing for the strikers. Also now Chukwuemeka being out [means] there’s a lot of creativity [missing and] hopefully his injury is not that bad,” Hasselbaink told talkSPORT.
“I would have loved to have seen Jackson take the penalty [against West Ham] to be honest because if he scores, that would give him a little bit of confidence and he would be off the mark.”
While the 22-year-old is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League, Hasselbaink has liked what he has seen from the striker so far.
“I’ve liked what I’ve seen. He led the line really well against Liverpool, he was a handful against West Ham.
“He just needs a little bit of help, but that also just takes time to get to know your teammates and for your teammates to know you.
“The Premier League is not an easy league. It’s the hardest league [and] it’s the best league. He’ll be fine.”
Chelsea have a favourable run of fixtures coming up with games against Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth all on the horizon.
Ben Chilwell has spoken highly of Jackson and has likened the forward to his former Leicester teammate Jamie Vardy.
“Personally it’s a very different kind of centre-forward to a lot of centre-forwards you see nowadays, in a positive way,” Chilwell explained.
“It’s a nice surprise in a way to see a no.9 that loves running in behind, it kind of takes me back to when I was at Leicester with Vards.”
