Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Nicolas Jackson will be out until April with a hamstring injury, suggesting that Christopher Nkunku may not be the answer to his problem up front.
Jackson has been Maresca’s first choice striker this season, scoring nine times in 23 Premier League appearances.
However, the Senegal forward has suffered an ‘important’ hamstring problem and is now set to be out until after the international break in late March.
Maresca confirmed at a press conference on Thursday morning: ‘Nico will be out until the international break, probably available after the international break.
‘We knew it was a muscular problem but not how important it was. His reaction was good so we didn’t think it was a big injury. Unfortunately he had the scan and it is an important one – he will be out for six to eight weeks.’
It is a big blow for the Blues, with young striker Marc Guiu also ‘out for a while’ so Maresca has to explore other options in attack.
An obvious choice is Nkunku, with the France international’s first team minutes very limited this season as he has made only three Premier League starts.
Maresca said the 27-year-old is an option to replace Jackson, but he is also looking at other ways to fill in for his first choice forward.
‘Christo is a solution but not the only solution,’ said the Italian. ‘I said many times I consider Christo a very important player from the start.
‘Now also with the transfer window closed, everyone is here and he can help us until the end. We are working to find a different solution. It can be Christo but also a different kind of player.’
Chelsea have hit a sticky patch in terms of form, with just three wins in their last 10 games in all competitions after Brighton dumped them out of the FA Cup at the weekend.
They face the Seagulls again on Friday night in the Premier League as Maresca faces a fight to hold onto a top four, and even top five, place in the division.
On recent struggles, the manager said: ‘I don’t think what we have done can be no good because what we have done is there.
‘I think, unfortunately we are out of both domestic cups. Our journey in the Premier League has been fantastic until today and in the Conference League. We will try and finish in the best way we can.
‘Don’t forget in the last two years Chelsea have never been in the top four and we have spent this season in the top four. We will try our best to finish where this club needs to be.’
Maresca confirmed that Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are close to returns from injury, while Wesley Fofana is not far behind.
‘Romeo Lavia is in the process to come back with us, Benoit Badiashile exactly the same,’ he said. ‘Wesley Fofana needs two or three weeks to be 100% fit with us.’
