'Like someone playing in Soccer Aid' - Premier League title winner claims Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson 'looks like a rapper or actor trying to play football' in bizarre rant

The Senegal international has earned mixed reviews since joining Chelsea from La Liga outfit Villarreal in the summer of 2023. Jackson hit 17 goals in his debut campaign, with 14 of those coming in the English top-flight, and is already up to nine this term.

He can, however, miss as many chances as he takes, with questions being asked of whether the 23-year-old is clinical enough to lead the line for a team that has a domestic crown back in its sights. There was more sublime and ridiculous from Jackson in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over west London neighbours Brentford.

After that contest, with Jackson spurning one opportunity from six yards out, ex-Blackburn captain and former Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood told Premier League Productions: “Not just today, I think all season, well, since I’ve seen Nicolas Jackson, he’s so unpredictable. At times he looks like someone playing in Soccer Aid who’s not a footballer. Look at this chance [Jackson’s miss from six yards], that looks like someone who is a rapper or an actor or something trying to play football.

“But then all of a sudden he just turns it on. He’s such a threat because he tries to get in behind, he doesn’t mind if he misses chances because he knows his one will come. It’s incredible. He scores the hardest chances and misses the easiest ones, but you need to be a big character to do that because he always wants to put himself on offer.”

While Jackson can waste the odd chance, he never hides. Sherwood added on the Chelsea forward’s positive qualities: “He always puts himself on offer all of the time and I admire that from him. He’s only young, he can still develop, he can still get better. I’m sure this manager will be showing him those chances and showing him how he can improve and get his coaching team out there with him and recreate those chances.

“I think he’s got an all-round game, he’s ahead of Didier Drogba, one of the best centre-forwards they’ve ever had, after 50 games. He looks like a real good character, like I say. It takes a big character to put yourself on offer at the Bridge and around the Premier League and have big chances and miss them, take the criticism but still put yourself on offer to get those chances again, and he takes difficult chances, that’s what he does. If he could finish the easy ones his numbers would double.”

Chelsea continue to see big-money bids for alternative No.9s speculated on, while also having France international Christopher Nkunku on their books, but faith is being shown in Jackson for now as the Blues sit second in the Premier League table – two points behind leaders Liverpool.